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Age-related decrease in the opioid control of LH secretion during reproductive years in normal women
V Coiro1, R Volpi, D Gramellini
1Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Parma, Italy.
Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Aging impairs luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion control in women. Bromocriptine treatment restored LH response to naloxone in older women, suggesting age-related dopaminergic alterations.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Neuroendocrinology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Previous studies indicated naloxone does not stimulate LH secretion in elderly men, suggesting diminished opioid inhibitory control of LH with aging.
- The role of aging on opioid control of LH secretion in women during their reproductive years remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether increasing age in women during their reproductive period is associated with alterations in the LH-releasing effect of naloxone.
- To determine if dopaminergic stimulation with bromocriptine can restore normal LH responses to naloxone in older women.
Main Methods:
- Studies involved younger (20-28 years) and older (40-48 years) women with normal menstrual cycles and hormone levels.
- The LH response to naloxone was assessed under normal conditions and after 7 days of bromocriptine treatment (5 mg/day).
- All tests were conducted on day 22 of the menstrual cycle.
Main Results:
- Naloxone significantly increased LH levels by 100% in younger women, but only by 50% in older women.
- Bromocriptine treatment did not alter the naloxone response in younger women but significantly increased it in older women.
- After bromocriptine, the naloxone-induced LH increment in older women became indistinguishable from that in younger women.
Conclusions:
- Increasing age during the reproductive period is associated with impaired endogenous opioid control of LH secretion in women.
- Age-related dopaminergic alterations, independent of gonadal steroids, underlie the defective opioid control of LH secretion in normally cycling women.