Glycoform composition of serum gonadotrophins through the normal menstrual cycle and in the post-menopausal state

The heterogeneity of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) was investigated in five women aged 29.4 +/- 3.2 years (mean +/- SD) throughout their menstrual cycles and in five post-menopausal women aged 53.8 +/- 5.6 years. Chromatofocusing (pH range 7-4) revealed menstrual cycle stage- and postmenopausal-related differences in the serum gonadotrophin charge. There were differences in the proportion of FSH with an isoelectric point (pl) > 4.3 across phases of the menstrual cycle (P = 0.019): midcycle (MC) 50%; early to mid-follicular (EMF) 36%; late follicular (LF) 37%, luteal (L) 29% and following the menopause (PM) 17%. There was no significant difference in the proportion of LH with pl > 6.55 between midcycle (53%) and EMF, LF or L phases (36, 43 and 32% respectively); although all were greater than that found in the menopause (13%). Concanavalin A chromatography revealed less (P < 0.005) complex FSH and LH glycoforms at midcycle (63 and 13%) than in the EMF, LF and L phases (90 and 18; 90 and 20 and 93 and 24% respectively). Menopausal gonadotrophins were least complex (FSH 34%, LH 4%). There was a direct relationship between serum FSH and FSH pl/complexity, and less acidic FSH was associated with reduced FSH complexity. Increased oestradiol was associated with basic FSH isoforms during the menstrual cycle and reduced follicular phase FSH complexity. We conclude that changes in gonadotrophin glycoforms occur through the menstrual cycle which are related to changes in the prevailing steroid environment. Following the menopause oestrogenic loss resulted in acidic, relatively simple glycoforms.