Endocrine Function of the Postmenopausal Ovary: Concentration of Androgens and Estrogens in Ovarian and Peripheral Vein Blood

Abstract

The concentrations of testosterone, androstenedione, 17β-estradiol, and estrone were measured in peripheral and ovarian vein sera obtained at the time of surgery from 10 postmenopausal women undergoing bilateral oophorectomy. A higher ovarian than peripheral vein concentration was found for all hormones studied. The differences between ovarian and peripheral vein concentrations were 15-fold for testosterone (3033 ± 1046 pg/ml vs 198 ± 27 pg/ml, p vs 754 ± 174 pg/ml, NS) and 2-fold for both 17β-estradiol (31.1 ± 6.3 pg/ml vs 14.6 ± 2.9 pg/ml, p < 0.05); and estrone (71.5 ± 13.3 pg/ml vs 30.3 ± 3.4 pg/ml, p < 0.05). It is concluded that the postmenopausal ovary continues to secrete a large amount of testosterone and a moderate amount of androstenedione. The small magnitude of the peripheral and ovarian vein estrogen differences could account for only minimal ovarian estrogen secretion.