title: Endocrine activity of the postmenopausal ovary: the effects of pituitary down-regulation and oophorectomy.
abstract: The endocrine activity of the postmenopausal ovary and the effect of pituitary down-regulation were studied in a group of 35 postmenopausal women. All women underwent oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy. Fifteen women received a single dose of a depot GnRH agonist (GnRHa) 2 weeks before operation, whereas 20 women formed the control group. Peripheral venous levels of LH, FSH, estrone, 17 beta-estradiol, testosterone (T), androstenedione (A), sex hormone-binding globulin, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were measured 2 weeks before, during, and 6 weeks after surgery. Ovarian venous blood was sampled during surgery. In the GnRHa and control groups, ovarian venous levels of A and T were significantly higher, and those of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and sex hormone-binding globulin significantly lower, compared to the peripheral levels. A significant decrease in T was found in the peripheral and ovarian vein samples during pituitary down-regulation with GnRHa. Six weeks after operation, peripheral T levels were significantly lower than those during surgery in the group that was down-regulated at the time of oophorectomy. We conclude that the postmenopausal ovary produces significant amounts of A and T, although only T contributes significantly to its peripheral serum levels. T production by the postmenopausal ovary is in part stimulated by the high levels of circulating gonadotropins, although pituitary down-regulation does not completely abolish androgenic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, De Wever Ziekenhuis, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Sluijmer
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Heineman
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: De Jong
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Evers
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007813:Laparotomy; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects; D017698:Postmenopause; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate
chemical_list: D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone