Absence of Mutation in the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor Gene in Severe Primary Hypothyroidism Associated with Gonadal Hyperstanulation

Abstract

The elevated TSH in these patients and prior demonstration of the in vitro ability of TSH to bind to the FSH receptor lead us to hypothesize that the gonadal stimulation in these patients is TSH-mediated. The fact that gonadal stimulation is not seen in all patients with severe hypothyroidism raises the question as to whether polymorphisms of the FSH receptor gene and/or possible changes in the TSH molecular structure may contribute to the TSH-mediated activation of the FSH receptor.