title: Ovarian estradiol production and lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menses. Although previous studies demonstrated a slight production of androgens and estrogens by postmenopausal ovaries, the impact of hormone production on lipid metabolism is still uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the postmenopausal ovary is hormonally active and whether hormone status contributes to lipid metabolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study of 87 women who were treated for gynecological diseases (29% had cervical cancer, 49% had endometrial cancer, 7% had fibroid tumors, and 15% had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia). They were categorized as early postmenopausal (n = 40; mean [SD], 56.8 [3.8] y) or late postmenopausal (n = 47; mean [SD], 66.6 [5.7] y) women. Serum specimens were collected from the peripheral and ovarian veins of participants undergoing bilateral oophorectomy. Sex steroid hormone levels and lipid profiles were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant differences in estradiol (E2) and testosterone were seen between the ovarian samples and the peripheral samples in all groups. E2 and estrone obtained from ovarian venous samples gradually decreased with age in postmenopausal women. There was a significant correlation between ovarian E2 and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and the low-density lipoprotein-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio. However, there was no correlation between peripheral E2 levels and any of the lipid parameters examined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this study investigates women with gynecological diseases, the postmenopausal ovary is hormonally active, and the E2 produced by postmenopausal ovaries may therefore contribute to the maintenance of lipid metabolism.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki City, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Risa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maruoka
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kiyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ashihara
authors.forename: Tomohito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Terai
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohmichi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014680:Veins
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol