Androgen and estrogen conversion rations in aging women.
Androgens and estrogens labeled with 3H- and 14C- have been infused at constant rates into postmenopausal women whose ages ranged from 45--90 yr, and who were 1--40 yr postmenopausal. The conversion ratios (ratio of concentrations of radioactivity as infused precursor to product steroid) for interconversions of androstenedione to testosterone, for the conversions of androstenedione and testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and for the interconversions of the estrogens were calculated. There was no trends in the conversion ratios with age and the mean values for these ratios in these postmenopausal women did not differ significantly from their respective values in a group of normal, healthy, reproductive-aged women. Our data are compatible with the conclusion that the overall activities of certain 17 beta-dehydrogenases and 5 alpha-reductases do not decrease appreciably with age.
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged
D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens