Interpulse interval sequence of LH in normal men essentially constitutes a renewal process

Abstract

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is released from the anterior pituitary gland in an episodic pattern driven by pulses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. Autocorrelation analysis of the sequence of interpulse intervals of LH secretion in normal men supports the hypothesis that the underlying mechanism driving LH secretion is a renewal process. That is, whatever "memory" the GnRH pulse generator (i.e., the hypothalamus or its antecedent neural drive) may have, it does not go back in time further than the preceding secretory pulse. Thus the hypothalamic timer starts over again each time there is a GnRH secretory episode.