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Endocrine Function of the Postmenopausal Ovary: Concentration of Androgens and Estrogens in Ovarian and Peripheral Vein Blood
517
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1974
Year
FertilityReproductive HealthGynecologyFemale Reproductive FunctionMenstrual CycleOvarian AgingOvarian CancerReproductive EndocrinologyPeripheral Vein ConcentrationsPeripheral Vein ConcentrationFemale InfertilityReproductive MedicineWomen's PhysiologyPublic HealthSteroid MetabolismReproductive HormoneMenopause Hormone TherapyEndocrine MechanismPeripheral Vein BloodAromataseOvarian Vein SeraEndocrinologyOvarian HormonePostmenopausal OvaryPhysiologyUterine ReceptivityMenopauseOvarian PhysiologyMedicineEndocrine FunctionEndocrine ResearchWomen's Health
The concentrations of testosterone, androstenedione, 17β‑estradiol, and estrone were measured in peripheral and ovarian vein sera obtained at the time of surgery from 10 postmenopausal women undergoing bilateral oophorectomy. All four hormones were higher in ovarian than peripheral vein blood, with testosterone 15‑fold, androstenedione 4‑fold, and estradiol and estrone 2‑fold differences, indicating the postmenopausal ovary still secretes substantial testosterone and moderate androstenedione but only minimal estrogen.
The concentrations of testosterone, androstenedione, 17β-estradiol, and estrone were measured in peripheral and ovarian vein sera obtained at the time of surgery from 10 postmenopausal women undergoing bilateral oophorectomy. A higher ovarian than peripheral vein concentration was found for all hormones studied. The differences between ovarian and peripheral vein concentrations were 15-fold for testosterone (3033 ± 1046 pg/ml vs 198 ± 27 pg/ml, p <0.01); 4-fold for androstenedione (3455 ± 1330 pg/ml vs 754 ± 174 pg/ml, NS) and 2-fold for both 17β-estradiol (31.1 ± 6.3 pg/ml vs 14.6 ± 2.9 pg/ml, p < 0.05); and estrone (71.5 ± 13.3 pg/ml vs 30.3 ± 3.4 pg/ml, p < 0.05). It is concluded that the postmenopausal ovary continues to secrete a large amount of testosterone and a moderate amount of androstenedione. The small magnitude of the peripheral and ovarian vein estrogen differences could account for only minimal ovarian estrogen secretion.