Variations in LH and FSH serum gonadotropins in the hypophyseal chromophobe adenoma and acromegaly in the woman in relation to age.

Investigation of the gonadotropic function by radioimmunoassay of serum LH and FSH in 62 women with hypophyseal chromophobe adenoma and acromegaly in relation to age and by comparison with 40 normal women revealed low values for LH and FSH during the reporduction period (20--43 years) and increased values in the postmenopausal period (48--84 years) like in physiologic postmenopause. The increase of the gonadotropic function in the hypophyseal tumoral syndrome of the chromophobe adenoma and acromegaly type above the age of 48 from low values compared to the normal to high values like those in physiologic menopause (a gonadotropic turning phenomenon) demonstrate an alteration of the hypothalamic receptors in relation to age and to these diseases.