The role of oestrogens on gonadotrophin secretion in the testicular feminization syndrome1

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The role of estrogens on gonadotropin secretion was assessed in 3 related patients with the complete form of testicular feminization syndrome. Serum LH [lutropin]and FSH [follitropin] levels were measured before and after LRH [luliberin] stimulation and before, during and after chronic clomiphene citrate administration. Moderately elevated LH basal levels with a significant LH rise following LRH were observed. Normal or even low FSH levels with poor response to LRH were found in all subjects. Clomiphene citrate administration resulted in a significant serum LH increase without any change of FSH. Following castration both LH and FSH rose, and a normal response to LRH was observed. These results were interpreted as demonstrating that, while endogenous estrogens modulate LH secretion in patients with androgen unresponsiveness, it plays no role in regulating FSH secretion. It was suggested that a factor of testicular origin without androgenic or estrogenic activity is responsible for FSH regulation.