Acute effects of testosterone infusion on the serum luteinizing hormone profile in eumenorrheic and polycystic ovary syndrome adolescents.

Context: Little is known about the neuroendocrine effects of androgens on the GnRH-LH unit in females. Objective: Our objective was to evaluate androgen negative feedback on the GnRH-LH axis in eumenorrheic and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) adolescents. Design and Setting: We conducted a prospective, longitudinal, randomized, double-blind study at a pediatric endocrinology clinical research center. Participants: Seven nonobese PCOS adolescents and seven matched controls (C) were studied in the early follicular phase of three consecutive menstrual cycles or in three consecutive months. Intervention: Pulsatile LH release was determined during saline [baseline (B)] and constant testosterone (T) infusions: low dose (T-LD) 0.75 and high dose (T-HD) 2.5 mg/12 h iv. Blood samples were drawn every 20 min overnight. Main Outcome Measures: LH (immunofluorometric assay) and T (electrochemiluminescence immunoassay) were determined at B, and during both T-LD and T-HD. LH profiles were analyzed by deconvolution and ...