GROWTH-HORMONE SECRETION IN PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN BEFORE AND AFTER OVARIECTOMY - EFFECT OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Objective: To evaluate the GH response to growth hormone-releasing hor mone (GH-RH) stimulation in premenopausal women before and after ovari ectomy and after 1 month of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). Patien ts: Ten women 42 to 49 years of age awaiting combined hysterectomy and ovariectomy for a variety of benign gynecological conditions. Interve ntion: Endocrine status was determined by assay of basal levels of gon adotropins (LH, FSH), E2, P, and PRL. Stimulation with GH-RH was perfo rmed before and 8 to 10 days after ovariectomy, and after a month of E RT. Results: A significant reduction in GH response to GH-RH was obser ved after ovariectomy. Estrogen replacement therapy restored GH respon se to presurgical levels. Conclusions: The results support the role of E2 in the stimulated secretion of GH and suggest that ERT increases p ituitary stores of GH.