title: Ovarian and adrenal contributions to peripheral steroid levels in postmenopausal women.
abstract: Serum levels of cortisol (F), pregnenolone (delta5-P), 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-delta5-P), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), progesterone (P), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-P), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androst-5-ene-3beta, 17beta-diol (delta5-diol), estrone (E1), and estradiol-17beta (E2) were measured in 10 postmenopausal and 5 premenopausal women before (control) and after 7 days of Dexamethasone (post-dex). Control and post-dex levels of delta5-P, P, DHT, T, and F were not different (P greater than 0.05) in premenopausal versus postmenopausal women, while the control levels of 17-P, DHEA, DHEA-S, A, delta5-diol, and E2 were lower in the postmenopausal women (P less than 0.05). Assuming post-dex levels equal ovarian contribution, the ovarian contribution of 17-delta5-P, 17-P, DHEA, delta5-diol, A, E1, and E2 and the adrenal contribution (control-post-dex) to DHEA, DHEA-S, 17-P, A, and delta5-diol was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in postmenopausal subjects.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000734:Androstenediols / Q000097:blood; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000097:blood; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000728:Androgens; D000734:Androstenediols; D004967:Estrogens; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011284:Pregnenolone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone