Disorders of gonadotrophin secretion.

Abstract

In recent years, particularly since the advent ofradioimmunoassay, the regulation of pituitary gonadotrophin secretion has been extensively studied in man and in animals (Greep et al., 1976). I shall not comprehensively catalogue the different diseases and syndrome complexes associated with disordered gonadotrophin secretion. These are systematically covered in several textbooks and reviews (London, 1975; James et al., 1976). Instead I shall consider the more practical situation of a pathologist or other clinician faced with the result of a serum gonadotrophin measurement and discuss the factors that need to be borne in mind when interpreting that result. This will lead me to some conclusions about the optimal use of these assays in clinical practice.