GONADOTROPIN-SECRETION DURING AGING IN WOMEN - REVIEW ARTICLE

Biological aging during the postmenopause markedly affects the neuroen docrine control of gonadotropin release. The determination of the age- related dynamics on gonadotropin secretion in postmenopausal women has proven to be a valid approach for delineating changes as a function o f progressive age. As a result, major functional derangements, primari ly at a hypothalamic rather than a pituitary site, have been determine d as concomitants of aging in women. Furthermore, aging may impair the negative feedback sensitivity to ovarian sex steroids, and interfere with the central neurotransmitter activity governing gonadotropin secr etion, The data reviewed on gonadotropin secretion in postmenopausal w omen support the view that the age-related processes are related to a hypothalamic rather than to a pituitary hypofunction.