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Luteinizing hormone correlates with adrenal function in postmenopausal women
Aditi R Saxena1, Ellen W Seely
1Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. asaxena@partners.org
Menopause (New York, N.Y.)
|June 21, 2012
Summary
In postmenopausal women, luteinizing hormone (LH) levels correlate with adrenal function. Higher LH is linked to increased urinary free cortisol and decreased aldosterone excretion, suggesting subtle impacts on adrenal secretion.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Biology
- Adrenal Physiology
Background:
- A potential link between luteinizing hormone (LH) and cortisol in postmenopausal women has been proposed.
- LH receptors are implicated in adrenal gland function, potentially mediating Cushing syndrome independently of ACTH.
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors are not found in the adrenal gland.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between LH levels and adrenal function in postmenopausal women.
- To assess adrenal function through 24-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) and aldosterone excretion rate (AER).
Main Methods:
- Studied 36 postmenopausal women in a fasting state and sodium balance.
- Measured serum cortisol, aldosterone, LH, and FSH levels.
- Quantified 24-hour UFC and AER.
- Analyzed correlations using Pearson's correlation coefficient.
Main Results:
- Serum LH showed a significant positive correlation with log-transformed UFC (r = 0.43, P = 0.01).
- Serum LH demonstrated a significant inverse correlation with log AER (r = -0.50, P = 0.002).
- No significant correlations were found between LH and serum cortisol or aldosterone, nor between FSH and these adrenal parameters.
Conclusions:
- In postmenopausal women, serum LH levels are significantly correlated with both UFC (positively) and AER (negatively).
- LH may influence adrenal function, promoting subtle shifts towards increased cortisol secretion.
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