Age-dependent LH and FSH effect on the proliferation of women’s peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro

Abstract

Pituitary gonadotropic hormones (LH and FSH) were found to induce an age-dependent proliferation of women's peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Results showed that PBL of elderly women gave a higher gonadotropic response than those of younger donors and that the number of responders to the mitogenic stimulus of the hormones was always more important in older than in younger women. A negative correlation between the mitogenic effect of FSH (10(-9) g/ml) and the level of plasma concentration of some steroid hormones (17-beta-estradiol or both 17-beta-estradiol and progesterone) was observed in younger donors. It was also found that physiological concentrations of LH and FSH can either increase or decrease the Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced proliferation in vitro of PBL taken from both young or postmenopausal women. In certain elderly women (4/9) a synergistic effect of Con A and LH, giving rise to high levels of thymidine incorporation similar to those achieved by Con A-stimulated PBL of young women, was observed. The possible physiological significance of these results is discussed.