The effect of ovariectomy on gonadotropin release

S S Yen, Yen SS, C C Tsai, Tsai CC
The Journal of clinical investigation · 1971 · vol. 50(5) , pp. 1149–53 · doi:10.1172/jci106587 · PMID:5552412 · PMC292038
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In premenopausal women, ovariectomy during the follicular phase induced a greater initial rise in LH and FSH than luteal phase surgery, eventually reversing the FSH/LH ratio.

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This 1971 study investigated the sequential changes in circulating luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels following bilateral ovariectomy in ten premenopausal women. The researchers found that the timing of surgery relative to the menstrual cycle significantly influenced the magnitude and pattern of gonadotropin release, with follicular phase removal causing a more rapid and pronounced initial surge compared to luteal phase removal. By the third week post-surgery, both groups reached similar plateau levels, but serum FSH concentrations increased more substantially than LH, reversing the normal FSH/LH ratio. This paper does not explicitly discuss endometriosis or adenomyosis; it was included in the corpus via a keyword match in the upstream search index.

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Abstract

The sequential changes in the concentration and pattern of circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)(1) following bilateral ovariectomy were determined in 10 premenopausal women. The initial (1st wk) and delayed (3 wk) secretory responses of serum LH and FSH as related to the phases of the menstrual cycle were examined. Ovariectomy during follicular phase was accompanied by a prompt and much greater rise in both LH and FSH during the 1st wk. This rapid rise was followed by a transient decline between the 7th and 10th day which resulted in a biphasic pattern. In contrast, a slower and progressive rise in serum LH and FSH was observed in subjects ovariectomized during luteal phase of the cycle. The quantitative secretion (area under the curve) during the 1st wk after ovariectomy was significantly greater in patients operated on during the follicular phase than during the luteal phase for both LH (P < 0.05) and FSH (P < 0.01). Thereafter, a similar pattern of gonadotropin rise was observed for patients ovariectonized during either phase of the cycle and reached a plateau by the end of the 3rd wk. At this time, the mean LH concentration increased 6-fold for follicular phase surgery and 8-fold for luteal phase surgery. The mean serum FSH concentration increased 8-fold for follicular phase surgery and 12-fold for luteal phase surgery. The net increase in serum FSH level was higher than that in the serum LH level after surgery in both phases of the cycle and thus a reversal of FSH/LH ratio occurred. These data provide indirect evidence that the phase of ovarian steroid secretion may exert a quantitative influence on the gonadotropin turnover rate within the hypothalamic-pituitary system. The augmented gonadotropin release and the reversal of FSH/LH ratio following ovariectomy presumably could be due to an increased gonadotropin net synthesis which is more pronounced for FSH than for LH.
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Advertisement Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI106587 Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California 92037 Find articles by Yen, S. in: PubMed | Google Scholar Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California 92037 Find articles by Tsai, C. in: PubMed | Google Scholar Published May 1, 1971 - More info Published in Volume 50, Issue 5 on May 1, 1971 J Clin Invest. 1971;50(5):1149–1153. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI106587. © 1971 The American Society for Clinical Investigation J Clin Invest. 1971;50(5):1149–1153. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI106587. © 1971 The American Society for Clinical Investigation Published May 1, 1971 - Version history - Abstract The sequential changes in the concentration and pattern of circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)1 following bilateral ovariectomy were determined in 10 premenopausal women. The initial (1st wk) and delayed (3 wk) secretory responses of serum LH and FSH as related to the phases of the menstrual cycle were examined. Ovariectomy during follicular phase was accompanied by a prompt and much greater rise in both LH and FSH during the 1st wk. This rapid rise was followed by a transient decline between the 7th and 10th day which resulted in a biphasic pattern. In contrast, a slower and progressive rise in serum LH and FSH was observed in subjects ovariectomized during luteal phase of the cycle. The quantitative secretion (area under the curve) during the 1st wk after ovariectomy was significantly greater in patients operated on during the follicular phase than during the luteal phase for both LH (P < 0.05) and FSH (P < 0.01). Thereafter, a similar pattern of gonadotropin rise was observed for patients ovariectonized during either phase of the cycle and reached a plateau by the end of the 3rd wk. At this time, the mean LH concentration increased 6-fold for follicular phase surgery and 8-fold for luteal phase surgery. The mean serum FSH concentration increased 8-fold for follicular phase surgery and 12-fold for luteal phase surgery. The net increase in serum FSH level was higher than that in the serum LH level after surgery in both phases of the cycle and thus a reversal of FSH/LH ratio occurred. These data provide indirect evidence that the phase of ovarian steroid secretion may exert a quantitative influence on the gonadotropin turnover rate within the hypothalamic-pituitary system. The augmented gonadotropin release and the reversal of FSH/LH ratio following ovariectomy presumably could be due to an increased gonadotropin net synthesis which is more pronounced for FSH than for LH. Images. - Version history - Version 1 (May 1, 1971): No description Advertisement Advertisement Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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MeSH descriptors

Castration Follicle Stimulating Hormone Luteinizing Hormone Adult Female Follicle Stimulating Hormone Follicle Stimulating Hormone Humans Luteinizing Hormone Luteinizing Hormone Metabolic Clearance Rate Progesterone Progesterone Protein Binding Radioimmunoassay

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