Abstract
Since GnRH secretion in the human cannot be monitored directly, the pulsatile secretion of LH from the anterior pituitary has been chosen as a surrogate marker of release of endogenous GnRH into the hypophysealportal blood supply (1). Since GnRH is the only known stimulator of LH release, almost all studies of the neuroendocrine control of reproduction in the human has employed frequent sampling of LH to make inferences regarding the frequency and amplitude of antecedent endogenous GnRH secretion. LH has proven to be a reasonable marker of endogenous GnRH secretion because of: (i) its known one-to-one relationship with endogenous GnRH secretion as validated in several animal species in which both hypophyseal portal secretion of GnRH and pituitary output of LH can be monitored (2, 3); (ii) its rapid circulating half-life of approximately 20 min (4); (iii) the widespread availability of relatively specific radioimmunoassays for its determination; and (iv) the previously demonstrated immediate response of LH to exogenous GnRH stimulation (5).
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References
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© 1994 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
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Crowley, W.F., Taylor, A.E., Martin, K.A., Whitcomb, R.C., Finkelstein, J.S., Hall, J.E. (1994). Use of the Free Alpha Subunit (FAS) of Glycoprotein Secreting Hormones as a Surrogate Marker of GnRH Secretion in the Human. In: Lustbader, J.W., Puett, D., Ruddon, R.W. (eds) Glycoprotein Hormones. Serono Symposia USA. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8386-4_19
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8386-4_19
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