Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Short-term effects of ovariectomy: the opioid control of LH secretion in fertile climateric and postmenopausal women

  • Published:
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of opiate receptors involved in the regulation of LH secretion in relationship to ovariectomy. Menstruating fertile (n = 5) and climateric (n = 7) patients and postmenopausal (n = 5) women who underwent therapeutical bilateral ovariectomy were studied in the first week postsurgery and LH plasma levels were evaluated after naloxone (4 mg in bolus plus 4 mg infusion/90 min), LHRH (10 μg + 10 μg iv) and saline administration. Two groups of fertile (n = 6) and postmenopausal (n = 6) subjects were studied as controls. Since the LH responsiveness to naloxone was impaired in climateric patients after ovariectomy, the test was repeated in 5 of them after 1 and 6 months of estrogen — gestagen treatment (conjugated estradiol + noretisterone acetate), showing a significant increase in all patients in both cases. In four subjects treated with only gestagen, naloxone was still unable to significantly modify LH plasma levels. These results indicate that ovariectomy affects the activity of opiate receptors, resulting in the first week postsurgery LH rise inversely related to basal LH levels. Furthermore, these results indicate that one or six cycles of estrogen-gestagen treatment in ovariectomized patients similarly induces a restoration of the opiate receptors neuroendocrine activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Delitala G., Devilla L., Di Biasio D. Dopamine inhibits the naloxone induced gonadotropin rise in man. Clin. Endocrinol (Oxf.) 13: 515, 1980.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Morley J.E. Yamada T., Walsh, J.H., Lamers C.B., Wong H., Shulkes A., Damassa D.A., Gordon J. Carlson H.E. Hershman J.M. Morphine addiction and withdrawal alters brain peptide concentrations. Life Sci. 26:2239, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Volavka J., Bauman J., Pevnik J., Reker D., James B., Cho D. Short-term hormonal effects of naloxone in man. Psychoneuroendocrinology 5: 22.5, 1980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zanaboni A., Zecca L., Zanussi C. Zanaboni-Muciaccia. W. Naloxone and anterior pituitary hormones: effect on TRH stimulation test. Neuroendocrinology 33:140, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Quigley M.E., Yen S.S.C. The role of endogenous opiates in LH secretion during the menstrual cycle. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 51:179, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Blankstein J., Reyes F.J., Winter J.S., Faiman C. Endorphins and regulation of the human menstrual cycle. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 14: 287, 1981.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Moult P.J., Grossman A., Evans J.M. Rees L.H., Besser G.M. The effect of naloxone on pulsatile gonadotropin release in normal subjects. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 14: 321, 1981.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ropert J.F. Quigley M.E., Yen S.S.C. Endogenous opiates modulate pulsatile luteinizing hormone release in humans. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 52: 583, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Wilkes M.M. Yen S.S.C. Augmentation by naloxone of efflux of LRF from superfused medial basal hypothalamus. Life Sci. 28:2355, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ferin M., Wehrenberg W.B. Lam N.Y., Alston E.J. Vande Wiele R.L Effects and site of action of morphine on gonadotropin secretion in the female rhesus monkey. Endocrinology 111:1652, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Veldhuis J.D., Rogol A.D., Johnson M.L. Endogenous opiates modulate the pulsatile secretion of biologically active luteinizing hormone in man. J.Clin. Invest. 72:2031, 1983.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Delitala G., Giusti M. Massocchi G., Granziera L. Tarditi W. Partecipation of endogenous opiates in regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in normal men. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 57:1277, 1983.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Foresta C., Marra S., Scanelli G., Scandellari C. Gonadal steroids and opioid control of gonadotropin secretion in man. Fertil. Steril. 40:798, 1983.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Reid R.L., Quigley M.E., Yen S.S.C. The disappearance of opioidergic regulation of gonado-tropin secretion in post-menopausal women. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 57:1107, 1983.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Melis G.B., Paoletti A.M., Gambacciani M., Mais V., Fioretti P. Evidence that estrogens inhibit LH secretion through opioids in postmenopausal women using naloxone. Neuroendocrinology 39: 60, 1984.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Grossman A., Moult P.J.A. Mclntyre H., Evans J., Silverstone T., Rees L.H., Besser G.M. Opiate mediation of amenorrhea in hyperprolactinaemia and in weight-loss related amenorrhea. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 17: 379, 1982.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Petraglia F., D’Ambrogio G., Comitini G., Facchinetti F., Volpe A., Genazzani A.R. Impairment of opioid control of luteinizing hormone secretion in menstrual disorders. Fertil. Steril. 43: 534, 1985.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lightman S.L., Jacobs H.S., Maguire A.K., McGarrik G., Jeffcoate S.L. Constancy of opioid control of luteinizing hormone in different pathophysiological states. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 52:1260, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Dunnett C.W. New tables for multiple comparisons with a control. Biometrics 20: 482, 1964.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Petraglia F., Locatelli V., Penalva A., Cocchi D., Genazzani A.R., Müller E.E. Gonadal steroid modulation of naloxone-induced luteinizing hormone secretion in the rat. J. Endocrinol. 101: 33, 1984.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Cicero T.J., Meyer E.R., Gabriel S.M., Bell R.D., Wilcox C. Morphine exerts testosterone-like effects in the hypothalamus of the castrated male rat. Brain Res. 202:151, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Bhanot R., Wilkinson M. Opatergic control of LH secretion is eliminated by gonadectomy. Endocrinology 112: 399, 1983.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Wardlaw S.L., Wehrember W.B., Ferin M., Autunes J.L., Frantz A.G. Effects of sex steroids on β-endorphin in hypophyseal portal blood. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 55: 877, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Petraglia F., Penalva A., Locatelli V., Cocchi D., Panerai A.E., Genazzani A.R., Müller E.E. Effects of gonadectomy and gonadal steroids replacement on pituitary and plasma β-EP levels in the rat. Endocrinology 111:1224, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Genazzani A.R., Facchinetti F., Ricci-Danero M.G., Parrini D., Petraglia F., La Rosa R., D’Antona N. β-LPH and β-EP in physiological and surgical menopause. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 4: 375, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Diez J.A., Roberts D.L. Evidence contradicting the notion that gonadal hormones regulate brain opiate receptors. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 108:1313, 1982.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Maggi R., Limonta P., Dondi D., Olasmaa M., Casularo L.A., Piva F. Brain opiod receptors: effect of androgens and of es-trous. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 7(Suppl. 1): 42, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Cicero T.J., Schainker B.A., Meyer E.R. Endogenous opioids participate in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-luteinizing hormone axis and testosterone negative feed-back control of luteinizing hormone. Endocrinology 104:1286, 1979.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Barkan A., Regiani S., Ducan J., Papavassiliou S., Marshall J.C. Opioids modulate pituitary receptors of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Endocrinology 112: 387, 1983.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Lightman S.L., Jacobs H.S., Maguire A.K., McGarrick G., Jeffcoate S.L. Climateric flushing: clinical and endocrine response to infusion of naloxone. Br. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 88: 919, 1981.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. De Fazio J., Verheugen C., Chetkowski R., Nass T., Judd H.L., Meldrum D.R. The effects of naloxone on hot flashes and gonadotropin secretion in postmenopausal women. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 58: 578, 1984.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica, University of Modena, Via del Pozzo 71, 41100, Modena, Italy

    F. Petraglia, G. Comitini, G. D’Ambrogio, A. Volpe, F. Facchinetti, G. Alessandrini & A. R. Genazzani

Authors
  1. F. Petraglia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. Comitini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. D’Ambrogio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Volpe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. F. Facchinetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. G. Alessandrini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A. R. Genazzani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Petraglia, F., Comitini, G., D’Ambrogio, G. et al. Short-term effects of ovariectomy: the opioid control of LH secretion in fertile climateric and postmenopausal women. J Endocrinol Invest 8, 325–330 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348507

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348507

Key-words

Search

Navigation