Ovarian androgen production in postmenopausal women.
BACKGROUND
Several studies previously reported that the postmenopausal ovary produces androgens. However, these findings have recently been questioned in a group of women with adrenal insufficiency.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to use contemporary assay methodologies to investigate whether the postmenopausal ovary is hormonally active and contributes to the circulating pool of androgens.


METHODS
Serum was collected from the ovarian veins of 13 postmenopausal women undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy, with sufficient quantities obtained to allow for measurement of several hormones. Serum was also analyzed from peripheral blood collected preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively.


METHODS
The study took place at the Los Angeles County Women's and Children's Hospital, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.


METHODS
Testosterone (T), androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estrone (E1), and estradiol (E2) were measured by RIA with preceding organic solvent extraction and Celite column chromatography.


RESULTS
Statistically significant gradients were seen between the ovarian venous and peripheral samples for T, A, DHEA, E1, and E2. Postoperative levels of T and E1, but not A, DHEA, or E2, were statistically significantly lower than preoperative levels. A gradient for T between the ovarian venous and peripheral blood was present in four of five women who were menopausal for more than 10 yr.


CONCLUSIONS
The postmenopausal ovary is hormonally active, contributing significantly to the circulating pool of T. Furthermore, this contribution appears to persist in women as long as 10 yr beyond the menopause.
Fogle
Robin H
RH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. robinfogle@yahoo.com
Stanczyk
Frank Z
FZ
Zhang
Xiaohua
X
Paulson
Richard J
RJ
D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012016:Reference Values; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone