OVARIAN AND PLACENTAL FUNCTION IN ADDISON'S DISEASE¹²

Abstract

THE RELATION of the adrenals to gonadal function has never been clearlyI elucidated (Looney, 1940). In the rat the removal of the adrenal gland has been reported to delay puberty in young animals (Wade and Haselwood, 1941), to decrease the frequency of estrous cycles in adult rats, (Corey, 1933) and to lower fertility and cause abortions (Britton and Kline, 1936). In the human female with Addison's disease, menstrual periods are often irregular or there is amenorrhea. Cases of severe adrenal deficiency in which the menstrual periods have been regular have been described however (Marafion, 1936). Complete studies of the output of sex hormones in Addison's disease have not been reported. The simultaneous presence of three women with Addison's disease in the University of Minnesota Hospitals, one of whom was pregnant at the time of admission, provided an opportunity to observe the daily fluctuation of sex