OBJECTIVE: Luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse characteristics in depressed
and normal women were compared to determine whether hypothalamic
dysregulation in depression extends to the hypothalamic-pituitary- gonadal
axis. METHOD: The subjects were 10 depressed and 13 normal comparison women
admitted to a clinical research center. For each woman, an intravenous line
was started and blood was withdrawn every 10 minutes for 8 hours. Blood
samples were assayed for LH and LH pulse characteristics determined by
using the computerized cluster algorithm of Veldhuis and Johnson. RESULTS:
The depressed women differed significantly from the comparison women in LH
pulse amplitude, rhythmicity, and area under the curve. CONCLUSIONS: Major
depressive disorder is associated with abnormal regulation of luteinizing
hormone. Gonadotropin regulation may provide a hormonal link between major
depressive disorder and impaired fertility.Abstract Teaser