Creşterea progesteronului ca declanşator al ovulaţiei

Introduction

In the present narrative review, we aimed to revise the main characteristics of ovulation, by describing the leading hormones involved in the process and thus raising a new debate on the capacity of progesterone to trigger ovulation. Literature was searched via PubMed, using keywords such as pregnancy, progesterone, ovulation, menstrual cycle and GnRH, with 18 papers included in the final review. 

Ovulation and menstrual cycle

Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) carry an important part in controlling the ovulation, a physiologic process that arises when the dominant follicle from the monthly selected ovary is discharged and the oocyte reaches the place of the future fertilization, the salpinges⁽¹⁾.

The menstrual cycle is the consequence of the equilibrium between the hypothalamus, hypophysis and ovaries and is marked by two phases: follicular and luteal⁽¹⁾. A normal menstrual cycle is defined as the period of time from the first day of menstrual bleeding until the first menses day of the subsequent cycle and is characterized by a median period of 28 days, with variations from 25 up to 30 days⁽¹⁾. Ovulation is the process that succeeds the follicular phase and occurs usually on day 14 of the menstrual cycle⁽¹⁾. Energetic cells in the follicle granulosa induce estrogen production, persuading LH surge and follicle discharge⁽¹⁾. Anatomically, the homogametic sex (the female) has two ovaries attached to the uterus through the utero-ovarian ligaments and to the pelvis through the infundibulopelvic ligaments, each ovary accommodating 1-2 million primordial follicles captured in prophase I of meiosis until the pubescence age, when they enter meiosis⁽¹⁾.

Ovulation is a process subordinated to the synergy of distinct hormones, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropin hormones⁽²⁾.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

The function of procreation depends on a neuroendocrine basis in which GnRH maintains a fundamental part⁽²⁾. The hypothalamus includes more than a chiliad of neurons that have the capability to issue gonadotropin-releasing hormone under the GnRH gene expression and, thus, controlling the anterior hypophysis to release LH and FSH which regulate ovulation⁽²⁾. GnRH responds to various indicators, as they are shown in Table 1⁽³⁾.

Conjointly with the aforementioned indicators, GnRH release, which occurs in a pulsatile or in a surge form, could also be determined by some factors involved in the natural biorhythm⁽³⁾. The frequency of GnRH pulsatility influences the type of hormone that is being released, as it is shown in Table 2⁽³⁾.

Pulsatile releasing of GnRH is influenced by many factors and in women it can cause reproductive afflictions, as presented in Table 3⁽⁴⁾. Calorie intake, as suggested in studies that have linked GnRH to functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA), or the lack of adequate calorie intake and excess exercising have the capacity to inhibit GnRH pulsatile-release⁽⁴⁾.
 

Gonadotropin hormones

Glycoproteins that form gonadotropin hormones are composed by an alpha subunit, common in TSH, FSH, LH and CG, and an individual beta subunit, and they are habitually used in fecundity therapy, singular or in distinctive combinations⁽⁵⁾.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone, gonadotropins and their subsequent receptors occur in a form of equilibrium and any pathology that could affect this balance could produce anovulation or amenorrhea⁽⁵⁾. The beta subunit plays an important role in the embodiment of each glycoprotein-derived hormone, as it contains two N-glycosylation sites⁽⁵⁾.  

The role of hCG

Syncytiotrophoblast contributes to the hCG development during pregnancy, while cytotrophoblast synthesizes a hyperglycosylated isoform, the two hCG forms having different roles in parturiency and egg evolution, as presented in Table 4⁽⁶⁾. Besides pregnancy, hCG might play an LH-role during menstrual cycle and, accordingly to Stenman et al., is a sensitive and specific marker for trophoblastic tumors of placental and germ cell origin, the excess production of exclusively beta subunit being a sign of advancing disease and inadequate prognostication⁽⁷⁾. Stenman et al. also noted that 45-60% of biliary and pancreatic cancer and 10-30% of other neoplasms are correlated with notable hCG status⁽⁷⁾.
 

FSH and LH

When GnRH is released in a slow pulse (<1/2-3h), FSH is synthesized, a glycoprotein affiliated with the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, thus regulating follicular growth⁽⁸⁾. In a recent review by Pascali et al., it was concluded that b-arrestins, a unique division of proteins, can be mobilized and attached to the gonadotropin receptors, subsequently leading to the potential of pioneering an upgraded therapy for reproduction issues^(8,9).

FSH is not exclusively related to the follicular growth, as studies have shown that different levels of FSH are found in osteoclasts and adipocytes^(10,11). When GnRH is released in a fast pulse (>1/h), LH is synthesized, a glycoprotein that establishes the appropriate climate for follicular discharge.

Could progesterone surge be the trigger of ovulation?

It is undeniable that progesterone plays a fundamental role in the secretory phase and it is crucial to the evolu­tion of menstrual cycle and of a subsequent pregnancy, with plentiful actions, as presented in Table 5^(12,13). Besides, during pregnancy, progesterone has the ability to abolish the uterine contractility state through nitric oxide supply^(14,15) and to strengthen placental circulation by diminishing pulsatility and resistance index in uterine spiral vessels⁽¹⁶⁾.
 

In the context of the contemporary science evolution, a new debate emerges: are there additional aspects of progesterone that could actually have a role in triggering ovulation?

In a study conducted by Wang et al. and published in 2019, an important inquiry was brought up: whether there could be a correlation between progesterone levels on the day of hCG or GnRH trigger and on the day of oocyte retrieval in assisted reproductive cycles⁽¹⁷⁾. Any association between late follicular phase progesterone level and fertility is still unclear.

The Wang et al. study was based on 384 women, of which 199 were in the receipt of 5000 IU hCG and 185 under buserelin 0.5 mg for the trigger of ovulation. Although the results indicated an eloquent interrelationship between progesterone levels and ovulation trigger (hCG trigger group p<0.00001 and GnRH trigger group p<0.00001), further studies are needed to be implemented, as during ovarian stimulation, follicles susceptible to elevated levels of FSH will regulate LH receptors, generating high levels of progesterone⁽¹⁷⁾.

Many studies have questioned the role of estradiol in triggering ovulation and, as recent as February 2020, Dozortzev et al. indicated progesterone as a genuine physiological ovulation trigger, especially when progesterone has the capacity to activate gonadotropins which are the key factors involved in ovulation⁽¹⁷⁾. In order to find a solution to this problem, a simple mechanism could be formulated, a mechanism in which progesterone could act as an ovulation trigger in a precise moment at the end of the follicular phase, while remaining as an ovulation inhibitor for the rest of the time of the menstrual cycle or as a part of birth-control medication⁽¹⁸⁾. As a closure, progesterone could act as ovulation trigger, after estradiol surge⁽¹⁸⁾.  

Conclusions

Ovulation is a natural process, an evidence of a healthful life. Reproduction in women revolves around ovulation, each ovary containing 1-2 million primordial follicles captured in prophase I until the pubescence age, when they enter meiosis. Although estrogens encompass the prevailing role in the process of ovulation, recent studies have focused on establishing the legitimate part of progesterone.

Further discussions and studies are needed to be implemented in order to reach specific conclusions, especially when reproductive issues continue to play an important role for healthcare providers around the world.