Estradiol Priming Improves Gonadotrope Sensitivity and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Obese Women.

Context: Obesity is associated with a pro-inflammatory state and relative hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Estrogen (E2) is a potential link between these phenomena because it exhibits negative feedback on gonadotropin secretion and also inhibits production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Objective: We sought to examine the effect of estrogen priming on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in obesity. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was an interventional study at an academic center of 11 obese and 10 normal-weight (NW) women. Intervention: A frequent blood-sampling study and one month of daily urinary collection were performed before and after administration of transdermal estradiol 0.1 mg/d for one entire menstrual cycle. Main Outcome Measures: Serum LH and FSH before and after GnRH stimulation, and urinary estrogen and progesterone metabolites were measured. Results: E2 increased LH pulse amplitude and FSH response to GnRH (P = .048, and P < .03, respectively) in obese but not NW women. After E2...