[Neuroendocrine changes in the climacteric]

In order to investigate the relationship between hot flushes and LH-peaks, we applied GnRH-Analogon for pharmacological hypophysectomy. Although the gonadotropin serum levels could be normalized, none of the women showed a cessation of the flushes. Therefore it can be assumed that not gonadotropins, but neurotransmitters are involved in the development of flushes. The determination of the serum-level of vasointestinal peptide in the course of a TRH-test showed high VIP levels only in two climacteric women. To verify the suspected relation of VIP to the climacterium, a larger collective of women has to be checked.