Physiological mechanisms associated with ovulation prediction using the CUE® Ovulation Predictor*

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Abstract
It has been shown that monitoring of salivary electrical resistance (SR) enables prediction of ovulation several days in advance, since a peak in SR is seen 5–6 days before the LH peak. This paper explores physiological mechanisms that may account for this change. The pathway whereby oestrogen stimulates aldosterone (ALDO) secretion acting through the renin - angiotensin system was considered. It is shown that this mechanism would only result in increasing SR as oestrogen values rise during the follicular phase and therefore is not an explanation of the SR peak and declining SR 5–6 days before the LH peak. The reported trend of sodium in milk of ovulating women parallels that of SR. It is shown that these changes are most likely to be due to a similar change in aldosterone levels. A possible role for adrenocortkotrophic hormone (ACTH) in causing the changes in aldosterone is discussed and supported with data from other independent studies as well as with preliminary data obtained from two normally ovulating subjects. Peaks in ACTH, ALDO and SR were coincidental and occurred 6 days before the LH peak. The temporal relationship observed among these variables suggests that ACTH, by affecting ALDO, modifies salivary electrolytes and hence SR.

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