Effects of oral buserelin on urinary LH secretion in male infants.

ABSTRACT

PIP: An evaluation of the effects of oral buserelin on urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in 19 healthy breast-fed male infants 2-4 months of age indicated a need for further research on the effects of this agent on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis of infants. A single dose of 35 mcg of buserelin from a nasal spray was mixed with 20 ml of breast milk and fed to each infant, followed by a normal breast feed. A significant increase in urinary LH concentrations occurred between baseline (0.6 +or- 0.7 mUI/ml) and 4-6 hours after treatment (1.5 +or- 1.1 mUI/ml); however, 24 hours after agonist ingestion, LH levels returned to baseline levels. These findings suggest that a sufficient quantity of buserelin escapes from the gastrointestinal inactivation to stimulate the infant's pituitary, resulting in LH release. This phenomenon is probably due to an immaturity in the infants' gastrointestinal enzymes function.