Changes of Plasma Concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in climacteric women with hot flushes

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the changes of serotonin metabolism and the hot flushes in climacteric women.Methods:Ninety eight climacteric women,aged 40-60,were enrolled and divided into 4 groups:Group A:20 cases of early menopausal transition.Group B:26 cases of late menopausal transition,with skip of periods 3-12 months.Group C:28 cases of early postmenopause(1-3 yrs).Group D:24 cases of late postmenopause(>3-6 yrs).Twelve normal women of reproductive age(24±3yrs)were served as young controls.Fifty two postmenopausal women were subdivided into 3 groups according to the presence or the absence of hot flushes:(1)postmenopausal controls without hot flush:17 cases,(2)mild hot flushes group:20 cases,fewer ≤5 times/d,(3)severe hot flushes group:15 cases,more than 5 times/d.Plasma concentrations of tryptophan(TP),5-hydroxytryptophane(5-HTP),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT or serotonin),5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA)and luteinizing hormone(LH)were measured in all participants by high pressure liquid chromatography-fluorescence spectrophotometer(HPLC-FS).The relationship between serotonin metabolic parameters and menopause,hot flushes were analysed.Results:(1)Mean 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations in plasma were significantly higher in climacteric women than those in young controls,especially in Group B.Mean 5-HTP and 5-HT levels were higher and 5-HIAA lower in Group D as compared with those of young controls.(2)Plasma 5-HT levels was positively correlated to luteinizing hormone concentration in postmenopausal women(P<0.01).(3)In the mild hot flushes group,only plasma 5-HTP levels were significantly higher than that in the non-hot flushes group.In severe hot flushes group,plasma 5-HT and 5-HTP contents were significantly higher and 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio lower than those in the non-hot flushes groups.Conclusion:The results suggest that the catabolic disorder of serotonin maybe involve in the underling mechanism of hot flushes in postmenopausal women.

Objective：To investigate the relationship between the changes of serotonin metabolism and the hot flushes in climacteric women. Methods： Ninety eight climacteric women, aged 40-60, were enrolled and divided into 4 groups： Group A： 20 cases of early menopausal transition. Group B： 26 cases of late menopausal transition, with skip of periods 3-12 months. Group C： 28 cases of early postmenopause （1-3 yrs）. Group D： 24 cases of late postmenopause（〉3-6 yrs）. Twelve normal women of reproductive age （24±3yrs） were served as young controls. Fifty two postmenopausal women were subdivided into 3 groups according to the presence or the absence of hot flushes： （1） postmenopausal controls without hot flush：17 cases, （2） mild hot flushes group： 20 cases,fewer 45 times/d, （3） severe hot flushes group： 15 cases, more than 5 times/d. Plasma concentrations of tryptophan （TP）, 5-hydroxytryptophane （5-HTP）, 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT or serotonin）, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid （5-HIAA） and luteinizing hormone （LH） were measured in all participants by high pressure liquid chromatography-fluorescence spectrophotometer （HPLC-FS）. The relationship between serotonin metabolic parameters and menopause, hot flushes were analysed. Results：（1） Mean 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations in plasma were significantly higher in climacteric women than those in young controls, especially in Group B. Mean 5-HTP and 5-HT levels were higher and 5-HIAA lower in Group D as compared with those of young controls. （2） Plasma 5-HT levels was positively correlated to luteinizing hormone concentration in postmenopausal women （P〈0. 01）： （3） In the mild hot flushes group, only plasma 5-HTP levels were significantly higher than that in the non-hot flushes group; In severe hot flushes group, plasma 5-HT and 5-HTP contents were significantly higher arid 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio lower than those in the non-hot flushes groups. Conclusion： The results suggest that the catabolic disorder of serotonin maybe involve in the underling mechanism of hot flushes in postmenopausal women.