OVARIAN SENSITIVITY TO FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE IS BLUNTED IN NORMO-OVULATORY WOMEN WITH DOWNS-SYNDROME

Ovarian sensitivity to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) during the e arly follicular phase of the human menstrual cycle was studied in six post-menarchal patients with Down's syndrome and 12 normo-ovulatory wo men, Pure PSD (75 IU) was given i.v. to six controls and six Do,un's s yndrome patients, while saline was administered to the remaining six c ontrols, Plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), FSH, oestr adiol, testosterone and growth hormone (GH) in samples collected for a period of 26 h after the injection were assayed, In control patients FSH injection increased oestradiol stimulated area under the curve (AU G), This value was significantly higher than that found in Down's synd rome patients (P < 0.02), who exhibited an oestradiol-stimulated AUC e quivalent to saline-treated controls, In Down's syndrome, GH plasma co ncentrations were significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0 .05). These results indicate that the ovarian sensitivity to FSH in pa tients with Down's syndrome is blunted, Lower GH plasma concentrations found in this group may in part account for this biological feature.