EFFECTS OF HOG PITUITARY FOLLICLE-STIMULATING HORMONE IN WOMEN: ANTIHORMONE FORMATION AND INHIBITION OF OVARIAN FUNCTION*

Abstract

Administra-tion of hog pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone FSH to 9 fe-male patients resulted in a prompt increase of urinary estrogen excretion in the 7 having functioning ovaries, but not in the 2 castrates. Increased urinary estrogen levels were associated with cystic follicular enlargement of the ovaries and changes in the breasts indicative of increased estrogen secretion. Anti-hormones , which were capable of inhibiting human pituitary FSH and the administered hog FSH, were formed in each of the 4 patients who received treatment for periods of 2 months or longer. Two of these patients, a 7-year-old girl having consti-tutional precocious puberty and an 18-year-old girl having severe functional bleeding, were individuals in whom temporary cessation of ovarian function was considered desirable. Neutrali-zation of exogenous FSH was manifested by a disappearance of stimulatory ovarian effects during the 2nd or 3rd month of therapy and by a complete lack of such stimulatory effects with retreatment. Inhibition of the patient''s endogenous FSH was reflected by a fall in urinary estrogens to below pretreatment levels, amenorrhea and, in 1 case, menopausal symptoms. Inhibition of endogenous FSH was seen most clearly upon retreatment, at which time antihormones rapidly increased and urinary estrogens fell to low levels. It is concluded that the induction of antihormone formation by giving pituitary FSH may have therapeutic application in cases in which it is desirable to inhibit pituitary gonadotropin.