2-hydroxyestradiol and Hypogonadism

We have previously shown that the administration of a 2-hydroxyestradiol (20H-E2) infusion (250 microgram/h x 4 h) to hypogonadal women resulted in a selective increase in the levels of circulating prolactin (PRL) without changes in LH or FSH. The present study concerns the effect of estrogen priming of hypogonadal women on the release of gonadotropins and PRL in response to an identical 20H-E2 infusion. Estrogen priming consisted of a 5 day course of orally administered ethinyl estradiol at a daily dose of 300 micrograms. Significant (P less than 0.05) inhibition of LH release was observed within 1 h of the onset of the 20H-E2 infusion reaching a nadir (-25 +/- 2%) by 3.75 h. The circulating levels of FSH remained unaltered for the duration of the 8 h study. In contrast, significant (P less than 0.05) increments in the release of PRL could clearly be detected after a lag period of 1.5 h reaching a peak (+91 +/- 11%) by 4 h. These and previous findings demonstrate that the inhibitory influence of 20H-E2 on gonadotropin secretion is conditional upon prior estrogen priming while the ability of 20H-E2 to stimulate the release of PRL is not.

Topics: Aged; Drug Interactions; Estradiol; Ethinyl Estradiol; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Humans; Hypogonadism; Kinetics; Luteinizing Hormone; Middle Aged; Prolactin

Administration of an intravenous bolus (1.0 mg) or a constant rate infusion (250 microgram/h for 4 h) of 2-hydroxyestradiol (20H-E2) to hypogonadal women, resulted in no discernible alteration in the circulating levels of LH and FSH. In contrast, progressive increments in the release of prolactin were unequivocally detected at 4.5 h after receipt of the bolus and 2.5 h following the initiation of the infusion.

Topics: Adult; Estradiol; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Humans; Hypogonadism; Kinetics; Luteinizing Hormone; Menopause; Middle Aged; Prolactin