Regulation of Gonadotropin Secretion in Turner's Syndrome

To determine the role of body fat in regulating secretion of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, we measured both at 20-minute intervals for 24 hours in eight children with Turner's syndrome. The 24-hour mean luteinizing hormone levels varied from 20.2 to 70.5 mlU per milliliter. Total body weight, total body fat and percentage of body fat showed a significant negative correlation with the 24-hour mean luteinizing hormone concentrations (P less than 0.01). The 24-hour mean follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations ranged from 60.4 to 229 mlU per milliliter, with a significant negative correlation between total body fat and percentage body fat and the 24-hour mean concentrations (P less than 0.05). These negative correlations were not mediated by estrogens or androgens.