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The Physiology of the Human Midcycle Gonadotropin Surge

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Ovulation

Part of the book series: Proceedings in the Serono Symposia USA Series ((SERONOSYMP))

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Abstract

The human menstrual cycle requires a tightly integrated series of neuroendocrine and peripheral hormonal signals involving the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries for normal folliculogenesis, ovulation, and maintenance of the corpus luteum. From many human, animal, and cellular models, we now understand that pulsatile secretion of hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) is absolutely required for and sufficient to induce pulsatile pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. The pattern of pulsatile LH secretion changes significantly in both frequency and amplitude across the normal menstrual cycle, at least partly reflecting negative feedback of ovarian estradiol, progesterone, and inhibins; however, the mechanism of the dramatic increase in LH secretion that occurs in response to estrogen positive feedback at the time of the midcycle surge (MCS) is still poorly understood. This midcycle surge is absolutely required for final follicular maturation and initiation of follicular rupture and is therefore a crucial component of the human menstrual cycle.

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Authors
  1. Ann E. Taylor
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  2. Janet E. Hall
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  3. Judith M. Adams
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  4. Kathryn A. Martin
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  5. Corrine K. Welt
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  6. William F. Crowley Jr.
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA

    Eli Y. Adashi M.D.

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© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Taylor, A.E., Hall, J.E., Adams, J.M., Martin, K.A., Welt, C.K., Crowley, W.F. (2000). The Physiology of the Human Midcycle Gonadotropin Surge. In: Adashi, E.Y. (eds) Ovulation. Proceedings in the Serono Symposia USA Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21508-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21508-2_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0521-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-21508-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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