A long-held belief is that pituitary hormones bind to their cognate receptors in classical target glands to actuate their manifold functions. However, a number of studies have shown that multiple types of pituitary hormone receptors are widely expressed in non-classical target organs. Each pituitary gland-derived hormone exhibits a wide range of nonconventional biological effects in these non-classical target organs. Herein, the extra biological functions of pituitary hormones, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, and prolactin when they act on non-classical organs were summarized, defined by the novel concept of an "atypical pituitary hormone-target tissue axis." This novel proposal explains the pathomechanisms of abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, obesity, hypertension, fatty liver, and atherosclerosis while offering a more comprehensive and systematic insights into the coordinated regulation of environmental factors, genetic factors, and neuroendocrine hormones on human biological functions. The continued exploration of the physiology of the "atypical pituitary hormone-target tissue axis" could enable the identification of novel therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases.
Humans ; Pituitary Hormones/metabolism* ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Prolactin ; Pituitary Gland/metabolism*

OBJECTIVESTo measure continuously the urine beta-FSH excretion in the patients with male hypogonadism, and to evaluate the significance of urine beta-FSH when used in the clinical practice and pathophysiological study on male hypogonadism.

METHODSFour health male volunteers (aged 19, 22, 27 and 33 years), four patients with the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (aged 17, 17, 19 and 24 years) and five patients with idiopathy hypogonadism (hypergonadotropic, aged 16, 16, 17, 20 and 22 years) were asked to collect their morning-first urine samples for 30 to 32 days. One normal men collected his urine samples for 63 days. The urine beta-FSH was assayed with the method of EIA, then corrected by creatinine (Cr) concentration.

RESULTSThe urine beta-FSH level of normal men was (1.16 +/- 0.20) micrograms/mg Cr, with the peak variation in their curves, peak level at 2.76 micrograms/mg Cr. The levels of urine beta-FSH of 4 patients with the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism were lower significantly than those of normal men [(0.58 +/- 0.31) (0.93 +/- 0.47) (0.47 +/- 0.33) and (0.60 +/- 0.40) micrograms/mg Cr], without fluctuation in their curves. beta-FSH levels of 5 patients with idiopathy hypogonadism were higher significantly [(3.02 +/- 0.93), (4.36 +/- 1.12), (4.79 +/- 0.78), (4.64 +/- 1.42) and (3.88 +/- 1.42) micrograms/mg Cr], with irregular fluctuation, the highest peak level at 6.83 micrograms/mg Cr. The second sexual characteristics of hypogonadal patients were poor and serum testosterone levels low.

CONCLUSIONSThe urine beta-FSH level raised with irregular fluctuation in patients with idiopathy hypogonadism, while lowed without any fluctuation in patients with the hypogonadism. These findings suggested that the urine beta-FSH excretion was useful for the clinically classified diagnoses and pathophysiological study on male hypogonadism, and for observing the treatment reaction of androgen replacement.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit ; urine ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; metabolism ; urine ; Luteinizing Hormone ; urine ; Male ; Testosterone ; urine

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the tissue ultrastructure changes of small testis and sex hormone and their correlation.

METHODSThe patients were divided into small tests (n = 8) and control group(n = 12). FSH, LH, T were determined by radioimmunassay. Diameter and wall thickness of convoluted seminiferous tubule were investigated with light microscope and electro microscopy on small testis tissue morphology and ultrastructure.

RESULTSFSH, LH, T of small testis and control group were (21.05 +/- 9.15) IU/L vs (6.74 +/- 3.52) IU/L, (22.88 +/- 6.25) IU/L vs (6.60 +/- 1.48) IU/L and (0.30 +/- 0.04) nmol/L vs (17.55 +/- 9.25) nmol/L, respectively. Seminiferous tubule diameter and wall thickness were(37.33 +/- 6.80) microns vs (198.46 +/- 29.84) microns and (10.30 +/- 1.82) microns vs (2.95 +/- 0.20) microns. Small testis tissue ultrastructure changed significantly.

CONCLUSIONSPathologic changes of small testis tissue in many parts such as seminiferous tubule, germinal epithelium, Sertoli cell, Leydig cell, limiting membrance and blood vessel may relate with genetics and immunoreaction.

Adult ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; metabolism ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; metabolism ; Male ; Statistics as Topic ; Testis ; anatomy & histology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Testosterone ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical efficacy and action mechanism of acupuncture for premature ovarian failure (POF).

METHODSAccording to prospective cohort study design, 30 cases were included. Based on theory of regulating Chong and Conception Vessels as well as soothing the liver and calming the nerves, acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4), Dahe (KI 12), Taixi (KI 3), Taichong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20) was applied, three times per week and 3 months were considered as one session. Totally two sessions were performed. The menstruation condition, estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and scores of the clinical perimenopausal symptoms were taken as treatment outcomes.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) and the cured rate was 16.7% (5/30). The recovery rate of menstruation was 16.7% (5/30) and the regain rate of menstruation was 56.7% (17/30). After the treatment, the level of E2 was significantly increased from (45.41 +/- 18. 09) pmol/L to (59.07 +/- 24.21) pmol/L (P < 0.05), and the score of perimenopausal symptoms was obviously reduced from 14.28 +/- 8. 30 to 4.04 +/- 3.28 (P < 0.01). However, no statistical differences could be seen in FSH before and after treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture has certain effect on improving menstruation and perimenopausal symptoms in POF patients, which is likely to he related with increasing the level of E2.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; metabolism ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; metabolism ; therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the correlation between abnormal sperm parameters and reproductive hormones and reinforced training.

METHODSEpidemic investigation were done between two different groups by determining endocrine hormone and standard clinical sperm analysis.

RESULTSComparison between reinforced training group and non-training group showed decreased sperm velocity but no change on sperm moving form, increased teratism sperm percentage but no change on sperm number, decreased plasma testosterone but no change on LH.

CONCLUSIONSReinforced training has correlation with weak part of sperm parameter analysis and reproductive hormones.

Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; metabolism ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Semen ; metabolism ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; physiology ; Testosterone ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the androgenic and anti-androgenic effects of GH (growth hormone) transgenic carp in male rats.

METHODSHershberger assay was carried out in castrated male SD rats aged 4-5 weeks. Testosterone propionate (TP) (0.4 mg/kg BW) was administrated for a positive control, GH transgenic carp (3.0 g/kg BW)+TP (0.4 mg/kg BW), parental carp (3.0 g/kg BW) + TP (0.4 mg/kg BW), and flutamide (Flu) (3.0 g/kg BW) were used for negative controls, and vehicle was administered orally for a blank control. All groups were administrated for 10 consecutive days. At the end of the test, animals were anesthetized, then weights of accessory sex organ were measured. Serum testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) levels were detected.

RESULTSThe weights ratios of the accessory sex organs and body weights showed no significant differences between the solvent control and the GH transgenic carp-treated groups. Serum concentrations of FSH, LH, and T of the rats treated with GH transgenic carp + TP showed no significant changes, compared with those treated with TP only.

CONCLUSIONGH transgenic carp does not have any androgenic agonist or antagonist properties in vivo screening tests.

Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Carps ; genetics ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Genitalia, Male ; drug effects ; Growth Hormone ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Rats ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVESTo detect the sexual hormone level in semen of patients with idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia, and further analyze the relationship between sexual hormone and idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia.

METHODS50 male patients with idiopathic azoospermia, 50 in idiopathic oligospermia and 50 male controls with normal sperm density were selected. The sperm density and sexual hormone in semen were detected respectively by routine semen analysis and chemical luminescence technique.

RESULTSThe values of LH were (5.19 +/- 0.67) IU/L and (4.77 +/- 0.68) IU/L, and those of FSH were (1.90 +/- 0.79) IU/L and (2.27 +/- 0.25) IU/L in idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia respectively, and the values of LH and FSH were (2.19 +/- 0.22) IU/L and (1.61 +/- 0.14) IU/L in normal control group respectively. There were significant differences in the values of LH and FSH between idiopathic azoospermia and normal control group(P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The values of PRL were (6.25 +/- 0.51) ng/ml and (6.33 +/- 0.34) ng/ml, and those of T were (1.51 +/- 0.12) ng/ml and (1.68 +/- 0.71) ng/ml in idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia respectively, and the values of PRL and T were (6.36 +/- 0.32) ng/ml and (1.83 +/- 0.09) ng/ml in normal control group respectively. There were no significant difference in the values of PRL between idiopathic azoospermia, oligospermia and normal control group, but there were significant differences of T between idiopathic azoospermia and normal control. Compared with 0.84 +/- 0.20 in normal control, the values of T/LH were 0.35 +/- 0.09 and 0.29 +/- 0.04 in idiopathic oligospermia and azoospermia respectively and there were significant differences(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe changes of LH, FSH and T values may be one of the reasons that cause the dysfunction of spermatogenesis and sperm maturation in patients with idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia. The study of semen hormone may lead to new strategies in the treatment to azoospermia and oligospermia.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; analysis ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligospermia ; metabolism ; Semen ; chemistry ; Sperm Count ; Testosterone ; analysis

Animals ; Diet ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Hemorheology ; Lipid Metabolism ; physiology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Progesterone ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the gene expression of Kiss-1 in the hypothalamus of true precocious female rats at various stages of development.

METHODSForty 5-day-old normal female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups of 10 rats: Control group 1, Control group 2, Model group 1 and Model group 2. The rats from the two model groups were injected with 300 microg of danazol at 5 days of age to induce true precocious puberty. The two control groups were injected with normal saline instead. For the determination of Kiss-1 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus, the rats of the Model group 1 were sacrificed during the first diestrus (early puberty) and meanwhile the rats of the Control group 1 were sacrificed when they were at prepuberty; the Control group 2 rats were sacrificed at the first diestrus (early puberty); the rats of the Model group 2 were sacrificed during the second diestrus (middle puberty). The expression of Kiss-1 mRNA in the hypothalamus in the four groups was detected using semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSKiss-1 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus in Model group 1 and Model group 2 increased by 1.4-fold and 2.8-fold, respectively, compared with that of Control group 1 (P < 0.05). Model group 2 showed significantly higher Kiss-1 mRNA levels than Model group 1 (P < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in the Kiss-1 mRNA expression between Control group 2 and Model group 1.

CONCLUSIONSGene expression of Kiss-1 is associated with the developmental period of true precocious puberty, suggesting that Kiss-1 might play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Animals ; Female ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Kisspeptins ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sexual Maturation ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of nourishing yin removing fire Chinese herbs (NYRF-CH) on the gene expression of hypothalamic growth hormone secretion peptide (Ghrelin) and its receptor growth hormone secretion peptide receptor 1alpha (GHSR1-alpha) at the puberty onset of danazol induced female precocious rats.

METHODSForty female SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e., the normal group (N), the model group (M), the normal saline intervention group (NS), and the NYRFCH intervention group (NI), 10 in each group. 300 microg danazol was subcutaneously injected to all rats except those in the N group to prepare precocious rat model. NYRFCH and normal saline was respectively administered to rats in the NI and the NS group from the 15th day old for 7-10 days. No treatment was given to rats in the N group. Time of rats' vulva opening was recorded. Ovary index and uterus index were calculated. Peripheral blood levels of estradiol (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), and hypothalamic contents of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) as well as the gene expression of hypothalamic Ghrelin and GHSR1-alpha were determined. Results Compared with the N group, the vulva opening time was advanced in the model group; peripheral blood levels of E2 and LH, uterus index, hypothalamic contents of GnRH increased; peripheral blood FSH levels and mRNA levels of hypothalamic Ghrelin and GHSR1-alpha decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the M group and the NS group, the vulva opening time was not advanced in the NI group; peripheral blood levels of E2 and LH, uterus index and hypothalamic contents of GnRH obviously decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); mRNA levels of hypothalamic Ghrelin and GHSR1-alpha increased (all P < 0.01). But there was no statistical difference in the hypothalamic contents of Ghrelin, or the number and activity of GHSR1-alpha (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNYRFCH had regulatory effect on regulating hypothalamic Ghrelin and GHSR1-alpha at gene transcription levels.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Ghrelin ; genetics ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Luteinizing Hormone ; metabolism ; Ovary ; Puberty, Precocious ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uterus