Norethindrone inhibition of testosterone secretion by an ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor.
A woman with severe hyperandrogenemia and virilization was found to have a fall in serum testosterone (T) concentration while taking an oral contraceptive containing norethindrone (500 vs. 164 ng/dL). Subsequent surgical exploration revealed an ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor. In vitro, the tumor secreted T (mean, 1.88 ng/mg X 4 h). hCG did not stimulate T secretion. In addition, norethindrone inhibited T secretion (0.33 ng/mg X 4 h). We conclude that norethindrone directly suppressed T production by the Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007984:Leydig Cell Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D012707:Sertoli Cell Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism
D013739:Testosterone; D009640:Norethindrone