THE EXPRESSION OF THE URINARY FORMS OF HUMAN LUTEINIZING-HORMONE BETA-FRAGMENT IN VARIOUS POPULATIONS AS ASSESSED BY A SPECIFIC IMMUNORADIOMETRIC ASSAY

Human gonadotrophins undergo metabolic transformations which result in the presence of several smaller, structurally and imnunologically rel ated forms of gonadotrophins in the urine. For luteinizing hormone (LH ), a beta core fragment (LH beta cf) has been isolated from the pituit ary and characterized, The corresponding urinary fragment is inferred from mass spectral and immunochemicai analysis of chromatographically separated urinary forms. Physicochemical characteristics, primarily ma ss spectral and chromatographic, indicate that the pituitary and urina ry forms of LH beta cf have a different structure, probably in the car bohydrate moieties, This communication characterizes the expression of LH beta cf in the urine of both reproductive and post-reproductive ag e women and in men, employing assays highly specific for the pituitary form of the fragment. It was found that LH beta cf is the predominant LH associated molecular form in the urine during peri-ovulatory perio d, peaking 1-3 days later than intact LH and reaching a concentration of similar to 600 fmol/mg creatinine, 7-fold higher than either LH or LH free beta subunit, Corresponding concentrations of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) beta Cf Were <l%, that of LH beta cf. LH beta cf c ross-reaction,vith some LH or LH beta monoclonal antibodies may well i nterfere with the accurate estimation of the day of the LH surge when urinary tests are utilized.