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Maturation of Luteinizing Hormone (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone) Secretion across Puberty: Evidence for Altered Regulation in Obese Peripubertal Girls

The Center for Research in Reproduction, and Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Christopher R. McCartney, M.D., Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Box 800391, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908. E-mail: cm2hq{at}virginia.edu.

Context: Peripubertal obesity (body mass index-for-age 95%) in girls is associated with hyperandrogenemia. LH likely contributes to this relationship, but overnight LH secretion in obese girls is poorly characterized.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate LH pulse characteristics in obese girls throughout pubertal maturation.

Design: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: The study was performed in a general clinical research center.

Participants: Eight nonobese and five obese Tanner 1–2 girls participated, as well as 32 nonobese and 12 obese Tanner 3–5 girls.

Intervention: Blood samples were collected every 10 min overnight (from 1900 to 0700 h).

Main Outcome Measures: LH pulse frequency, amplitude, and mean LH were measured in three 4-h time blocks (block 1, 1900–2300 h; block 2, 2300–0300 h; and block 3, 0300–0700 h).

Results: Tanner stage 1–2 nonobese girls demonstrated nocturnal increases of LH frequency (P < 0.01, block 1 vs. 2) and mean LH (P < 0.05, block 1 vs. 2 and 3). Obese Tanner 1–2 girls had lower 12-h LH frequency and LH amplitude (P < 0.05 for both), with no overnight changes of LH pulse parameters. Compared to normal, LH frequency was elevated in Tanner 3–5 obese girls (P < 0.01 in all blocks), whereas LH amplitude was low (P < 0.05 in all blocks). Overnight increases of LH amplitude were observed in nonobese Tanner 3–5 girls (P < 0.0001), but not in obese Tanner 3–5 girls.

Conclusions: Obesity in prepubertal and early pubertal girls is associated with reduced LH secretion and reduced nocturnal changes of LH. In later pubertal girls, obesity is linked with reduced LH amplitude, but elevated LH frequency; the latter may reflect effects of hyperandrogenemia.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. J. Chang Obesity and the Emergence of Sleep-Wake Gonadotropin Secretion in Girls during Early Pubertal Development J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2009; 94(4): 1094 - 1096. [Full Text] [PDF]