Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF )
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Genazzani, A. D.
Right arrow Articles by Genazzani, A. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Genazzani, A. D.
Right arrow Articles by Genazzani, A. R.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol. 10, No. 11, pp. 2868-2871, 1995
© 1995 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

research-article

Naltrexone administration modulates the neuroendocrine control of luteinizing hormone secretion in hypothalamic amenorrhoea

Alessandro D. Genazzani1, Mario Gastaldi, Felice Petraglia, Cesare Battaglia, Nicola Surico2, Annibale Volpe and Andrea R. Genazzani3

Department of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, University of Modena Italy 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Novara Italy 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa Italy

Correspondence: 1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Modena, Via del Pozzo 71, 41100 Modena, Italy

Because endogenous opioids have been considered to be deeply involved as a causal factor of hypothalamic amenorrhoea, this study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of the administration of naltrexone, an antagonist of opioid receptors, on luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in patients with hypothalamic amenorrhoea. A total of 30 patients with hypothalamic amenorrhoea were studied. Patients were divided into two groups: group A, hypogonadotrophic (n = 15), and group B, normogonadotrophic (n = 15). All patients were administered naltrexone at a dose of 50 mg/day per os for 6 months. A third group of 10 amenorrhoeic patients was treated with placebo per os with the same schedule. All patients were evaluated for LH spontaneous pulsatile release in baseline conditions and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Plasma gonadal steroid concentrations increased significantly in all patients after 3 months of naltrexone therapy, but only hypogonadotrophic patients showed a sharp increase in both LH plasma concentrations and LH pulse amplitude within the first 3 months of treatment which remained unchanged until the sixth month of treatment. Plasma follicle stimulating hormone concentrations did not change significantly in any patient. Menstrual bleeding occurred within 90 days of the beginning of treatment in 24 out of the 30 patients. Patients treated with placebo did not show a significant change in gonadotrophin and gonadal steroid plasma concentrations. The results of our study support the efficacy of naltrexone administration on neuroendocrine pathways controlling LH secretion in patients with hypothalamic amenorrhoea.

Key words: endogeneous opioid peptides/gonadotrophins/hypothalamic amennorrhoea/naltrexone


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
R. B. Perkins, J. E. Hall, and K. A. Martin
Neuroendocrine Abnormalities in Hypothalamic Amenorrhea: Spectrum, Stability, and Response to Neurotransmitter Modulation
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 1999; 84(6): 1905 - 1911.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
J. Hangaard, M. Andersen, E. Grodum, O. Koldkjær, and C. Hagen
Pulsatile Luteinizing Hormone Secretion in Patients with Addison's Disease. Impact of Glucocorticoid Substitution
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 1998; 83(3): 736 - 743.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.