title: Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and adrenal function before and after ovariectomy in premenopausal women.
abstract: The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is modulated by sex hormones. Few data exist on the relation between acute estrogen deficit and HPA axis response to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). The effects of a sudden drop in estradiol levels on basal and CRH-stimulated levels of ACTH, cortisol, testosterone, androstenedione and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) were assessed in nine premenopausal women (44-48 years of age), before and after ovariectomy. The CRH test was performed before and 8 days after ovariectomy. A significant reduction in ACTH and adrenal steroids but not in cortisol response to CRH was observed after ovariectomy. The ratio of deltamax androstenedione/17-OHP after CRH stimulation was substantially the same before and after ovariectomy, whereas deltamax 17-OHP/cortisol was significantly lower in ovariectomized women showing increased 21- and 11beta-hydroxylase activity. The results show that the acute estrogen deficit induces changes in the HPA axis characterized by reduced stimulated secretion of ACTH and steroids but normal stimulated cortisol production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Leo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: la Marca
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Talluri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Antona
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morgante
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone