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Regulation of Human Gonadotropins: VII. Daily Individual Urinary Estrogens, Pregnanediol and Serum Luteinizing and Follicle Stimulating Hormones During the Menstrual Cycle

Reproduction and Endocrinology Program, The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

Daily measurements of urinary estrone (E₁), estradiol (E₂) and estriol (E₃) excretion by fluorometry and of pregnanediol by gasliquid chromatography have been performed in 5 normally menstruating women throughout an entire menstrual cycle. Concomitant daily serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) have been determined by radioimmunoassay. The cyclic patterns of each of these hormones were similar to those reported previously in that both rose sharply on the first day of menses and remained quite constant until shortly before the middle of the cycle. This was followed by a gradual decrease in FSH until a concomitant surge of both hormones occurred at approximately midcycle. During the luteal phase, concentrations of LH and FSH were generally lower than those in the follicular phase. Analysis of the daily temporal relationships between these hormones revealed a peak of urinary E₂ on the day preceding the peak of LH and FSH at midcycle in all 5 subjects. A peak of E₁ excretion was also observed on the day prior to the LH and FSH peak in 3 of the 5 subjects, whereas the excretion pattern of estriol was not as well defined. Pregnanediol excretion also appeared to rise on the day preceding the LH and FSH peak, reaching luteal phase values 2–3 days following the gonadotropin peak. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that elaboration of estradiol, and possibly progesterone, by the maturing follicle may elicit the surge of both LH and FSH at midcycle.

This study was supported, in part, by research grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the USPHS (NIH-HD-02929), The Population Council, the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project (No. 349 and 384) and by an Institutional Research Grant (IN-401) from the American Cancer Society to the University of Michigan.

¹ Career Development Awardee of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

² Josiah Macy, Jr., Foundation Faculty Fellow.

Received April 7, 1969.