Relation between urinary catecholamine and gonadotrophins and sexual hormones

Abstract

The urinary excretion of the norepinephrine, epinephrine and the norepinephrine/epinephrine ratio and its modifications by the ovariectomy, adrenalectomy, hypophysectomy and the administration of sexual hormones and gonadotrophins were studied in female Wistar rats. The ovariectomy increased epinephrine excretion and decreased the studied ratio. The adrenalectomy increased norepinephrine and the ratio levels and diminshed epinephrine excretion. Norepinephrine and norepinephrine/epinephrine ratio elimination increased in the ovariectomized and adrenalectomized rats. The sexual hormones did not alter catecholamine levels in the ovariectomized and adrenalectomized animals and were not effective to restore the control levels. The norepinephrine/epinephrine ratio reached a maximum under progesterone effects. Both urinary catecholamines rose in ovariectomized and hypophysectomized animals. The chorionic and the equine gonadotrophins did not restore the control levels, but they had a tendency to do it. The results showed the existence of a close interelationship between the sympathetic system and the sexual hormones and gonadrotrophins function, that could be related to regulatory mechanisms of the hypophyseal gonadotrophins secretion.