The effect of sodium valproate on luteinizing hormone secretion in women with polycystic ovary disease.

The aim of this study was to examine whether modulation of the GABA-ergic system (with sodium valproate) affects gonadotropin secretory frequency and amplitude in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Six women aged 25 +/- 2 years with diagnosed PCOS and six healthy women aged 26 +/- 2 years at day 7-11 of menstrual cycle were included in the study. Sodium valproate 1200 mg p.o./day (600 mg t.i.d.) was administered for five days in both groups. Efficacy of treatment was assessed in women with PCOS by measuring six hour LH pulsatility (every .10 min), and by GnRH tests before and after treatment. Basal serum steroids were assessed as well. Hormones were determined by radioimmunoassay and pulse detection was carried out by the program PULSAR. The administration of valproate did not change basal serum LH concentration (9.1 +/- 0.6 vs 9.0 +/- 0.8 IU/L p > 0.05) nor LH pulse frequency (7.3 +/- 0.5 vs 6.3 +/- 0.5 p > 0.05) or the LH pulse amplitude (3.0 +/- 0.5 vs 3.5 +/- 0.4 p > 0.05). LH response to GnRH (mean peak 43.6 +/- 5.2 vs 44.1 +/- 6.0 IU/L p > 0.05) did not change either. Valproate did not affect the LH secretory activity in women with PCOS. There was no change in FSH, and prolactin secretion. In five patients with PCOS valproate caused further increase in serum testosterone level but this did not reach significance in the group as a whole (5.6 +/- 1.0 vs 9.1 +/- 2.0 nmol/L p > 0.05).