TBR Bio Section IV, question #40 (menopause)

[Captain Sisko]

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Hey all,

Question stem says menopause is the cessation of the menstrual cycle, etc. Ant Pituitary continues to function normally, what levels of FSH and LH would be seen in the blood of a menopausal woman who takes no exogenous hormones?

TBR's answer says increased FSH and LH.

I could see why increased FSH happens, but I put down decreased LH instead of increased. My reasoning is that there's no positive feedback leading to LH surge, and thus the net LH produced will be decreased. I suppose it makes sense that there's no response from the ovaries and that this has a feedback effect on the hypothalamus -> AP, but doesn't the lack of a surge outweigh the LH that gets made in the futile effort to ovulate?

thanks

Sisko

 

[sdm33]

Your pituitary gland secretes FSH in response to low estrogen levels. Because estrogen levels decrease as you approach menopause, FSH levels tend to be higher.
But I am not sure about LH increase ?? Good Q

 

[Captain Sisko]

bump, anyone? tbrteacher?

 

[sp808]

I remember getting this one wrong too. I think it's because low estrogen has an inhibitory effect on LH, while high estrogen (i.e., during the LH surge) has a stimulatory effect. Since you aren't ovulating anymore, removing estrogen at that point would be removing the inhibitory effect rather than the stimulatory one.

 

[image187]

Basically forget about the LH surge during ovulation. When the ovaries burn out and no longer make estrogen, there is no negative feedback on the hypothalamus which results in elevated LH and FSH. This is the main point.

 

[Captain Sisko]

Basically forget about the LH surge during ovulation. When the ovaries burn out and no longer make estrogen, there is no negative feedback on the hypothalamus which results in elevated LH and FSH. This is the main point.

understood. thanks

so would steers have increased levels of fsh compared to bulls?

 

[image187]

yes, they would! lol