Ovarian hyperstimulation augments adrenal dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate secretion.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if factor(s) secreted by the ovaries during hyperstimulation potentiate basal and ACTH-stimulated adrenal androgen secretion.


METHODS
Retrospective and prospective and prospective clinical study.


METHODS
University tertiary care center infertility clinic.


METHODS
Two hundred thirteen hyperstimulation cycles in endocrinologically normal women were identified from 92 patients with ovulatory infertility, aged 25 to 45 years. Further, seven endocrinologically normal infertile women, aged 22 to 37 years, who were undergoing empiric ovarian hyperstimulation for infertility were identified and studied.


METHODS
In the previously performed cycles, basal and peak serum DHEAS and cortisol (F) levels were assayed and compared with each other and to the extant E2 levels. Additionally, at the baseline and the peak of ovarian hyperstimulation cycles, a standard ACTH test was performed and serum was assayed for DHEAS, DHEA, and F.


METHODS
Basal and ACTH-stimulated serum DHEAS, DHEA (prospective part only), and F concentrations. Where applicable, mean peak values were generated and compared between the baseline and the peak of stimulation with or without a correction for intrapatient variability in F secretion.


RESULTS
Basal serum DHEAS levels rose with ovarian hyperstimulation independent of F. Post-ACTH mean peak value concentrations rose with ovarian hyperstimulation for DHEAS but not DHEA or F.


CONCLUSIONS
Ovarian hyperstimulation potentiates basal and ACTH perturbed adrenal DHEAS secretion. This implies the existence of a humoral ovarian factor(s) that mediate this ovarian-adrenal cross-talk.
Casson
P R
PR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis, USA.
Kristiansen
S B
SB
Umstot
E
E
Carson
S A
SA
Buster
J E
JE
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000328:Adult; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone