title: Endocrine impact of pure estradiol replacement in postmenopausal women: alterations in anterior pituitary hormone release and circulating sex steroid hormone concentrations.
abstract: Thirteen healthy postmenopausal volunteers were studied under basal conditions and at intervals (days 1, 5, 10, and 30) after intravaginal placement of a polysiloxane ring impregnated with 400 mg of estradiol. Mean serum estradiol concentrations rose 26-fold with a twofold increase in serum estrone concentrations. Serum delta 4-androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and total testosterone did not change, but absolute and percent free testosterone concentrations declined significantly by day 5. Concurrently, serum concentrations of immunoactive follicle-stimulating hormone declined progressively, while serum luteinizing hormone and free alpha-subunit concentrations exhibited a biphasic pattern of suppression. Serum levels of prolactin increased monophasically and those of growth hormone, somatomedin C, and thyroid-stimulating hormone did not change.
mesh_terms: D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; D004970:Estrone; D004958:Estradiol