Ovarian manipulation with pure gonadotrophins

The gonadotrophins follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were first isolated in more or less pure forms over half a century ago. Purified pituitary gonadotrophins were used by Fevold (1941) and Greep, Van Dyke & Chow (1942) in their classic experiments which demonstrated unequivocally the need for both FSH and LH to stimulate normal ovarian follicular development and oestrogen secretion in hypophysectomized rats. Human pituitary gonadotrophins of equivalent purity have never been widely available for clinical use, but within the next few years pharmaceutical grades of human recombinant FSH and LH are both likely to become so (e.g. Keene, Matzuk, Otani et al. 1989). Taking account of recent advances in our understanding of gonadotrophin action at the cellular level, it should be possible to use these pure human gonadotrophins to devise improved strategies for stimulating ovarian function in infertile women. Development-dependent follicular responsiveness to gonadotrophins FSH receptors are located