This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by SAMUELS, M. H. Articles by RIDGWAY, E. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by SAMUELS, M. H. Articles by RIDGWAY, E. C.

Pathophysiology of Pulsatile and Copulsatile Release of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, and -Subunit^*

Departments of Internal Medicine (Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism), University of Texas Health Science Center (M.H.S.) San Antonio, Texas 78284
University of Virginia Health Sciences Center (J.D.V.) Charlottesville, Virginia 22908
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (P.H., E.C.R.) Denver, Colorado 80262

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. M. H. Samuels, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX 78284.

Under physiological conditions, TSH, LH, FSH, and a-subunit are released in discrete pulses. To further characterize their neuroregulation and to investigate possible copulsatile secretion of these glycoprotein hormones, we studied the 24-h pulse profiles of all four hormones in each of four subject groups: young men, young women, postmenopausal women, and subjects with untreated primary hypothyroidism. Gonadotropin pulse properties in euthyroid men and women were similar to those previously reported, and hypothyroid subjects had normal gonadotropin pulse patterns. TSH release was pulsatile in all groups; hypothyroid subjects had increased pulse amplitude, but loss of the usual nocturnal increases in pulse amplitude, -Subunit concentrations were pulsatile in all groups, with minimal circadian variation; postmenopausal and hypothyroid subjects had increased -subunit pulse amplitude.

We then tested pulse concordance among the four simultaneous hormone series. -Subunit and the gonadotropins were significantly coreleased (triple coincidence), suggesting that all three hormones are closely linked to processes that regulate GnRH secretion. -Subunit bursts were also significantly coincident with those of TSH in men, postmenopausal women, and hypothyroid subjects. Interestingly, TSH pulses were significantly concordant with those of LH and FSH, and all four hormones were significantly concordant in men, postmenopausal women, and hypothyroid subjects. In conclusion, the present findings imply that an underlying unified signal coordinates pulsatile hormone secretion from both gonadotrophs and thyrotrophs. {J Clin Endocrinol Metab 71: 425–432, 1990)

^* This work was supported in part by Adult General Clinical Research Center Grant M01-RR-00051 and NIH Grants DK-36843–03 (to M.H.S.), CA-47411–01 (to E.C.R.), and Research Career Development Award 1K04-HD-00634 (to J.D.V.).

Received December 4, 1989.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. I. Surks, G. Goswami, and G. H. Daniels The Thyrotropin Reference Range Should Remain Unchanged J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2005; 90(9): 5489 - 5496. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Bonadonna, A. Burattin, M. Nuzzo, G. Bugari, E. A. Rosei, D. Valle, N. Iori, J. P Bilezikian, J. D Veldhuis, and A. Giustina Chronic glucocorticoid treatment alters spontaneous pulsatile parathyroid hormone secretory dynamics in human subjects Eur. J. Endocrinol., February 1, 2005; 152(2): 199 - 205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. M. Keenan, F. Roelfsema, N. Biermasz, and J. D. Veldhuis Physiological control of pituitary hormone secretory-burst mass, frequency, and waveform: a statistical formulation and analysis Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2003; 285(3): R664 - R673. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Mantzoros, M. Ozata, A. B. Negrao, M. A. Suchard, M. Ziotopoulou, S. Caglayan, R. M. Elashoff, R. J. Cogswell, P. Negro, V. Liberty, et al. Synchronicity of Frequently Sampled Thyrotropin (TSH) and Leptin Concentrations in Healthy Adults and Leptin-Deficient Subjects: Evidence for Possible Partial TSH Regulation by Leptin in Humans J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2001; 86(7): 3284 - 3291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. H. Samuels Effects of Metyrapone Administration on Thyrotropin Secretion in Healthy Subjects-A Clinical Research Center Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2000; 85(9): 3049 - 3052. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. H. Samuels Effects of Variations in Physiological Cortisol Levels on Thyrotropin Secretion in Subjects with Adrenal Insufficiency: A Clinical Research Center Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2000; 85(4): 1388 - 1393. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. Foresta, P. Bordon, M. Rossato, R. Mioni, and J. D. Veldhuis Specific Linkages Among Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, and Testosterone Release in the Peripheral Blood and Human Spermatic Vein: Evidence for Both Positive (Feed-Forward) and Negative (Feedback) Within-Axis Regulation J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 1997; 82(9): 3040 - 3046. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]