Hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle
Jamin, C.; Hazard, J.
La Nouvelle Presse Medicale 10(43): 3561-3564
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1518 PMID: 6798553 Document Number: 175115
The menstrual cycle is the most evident manifestation of an extremely complex phenomenon which concerns not only reproduction, but the general health of the individual. In the light of the most recent clinical acquisitions, the menstrual cycle can be described as follows: 1) regular, pulsatile secretion by the hypothalamus of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH), which, in turn, liberates follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH); 2) the FSH makes possible the ovarian action of LH, which, in turn, permits the synthesis of estradiol; 3) negative feedback of estradiol and inhibin on the hypophysis cerebri; 4) ovulation is caused by a peak level of LH, but is dependent on progesterone levels; 5) synthesis of progesterone by the corpus luteum; 6) negative biofeedback of progesterone at the hypothalamic level; and 7) at the endometrial level increase in the number of estradiol receptors during the follicular phase and decrease of cytoplasmatic progesterone receptors during the luteal phase. The discovery of the mechanism of the menstrual cycle has helped women with hypothalamic disorders by using a pump releasing LH-RH in a pulsatile fashion.