INHIBITION BY ESTROGEN ADMINISTRATION OF ADRENAL-PITUITARY RESPONSE TO METHOPYRAPONE*

Abstract

Eleven patients were given methopyrapone orally before and during estorgen therapy in an attempt to see whether estrogen affects the pituitary-adrenal response in man. Nine out of eleven patients showed a decreased response in urinary 17-ketogenic steroids during estrogen therapy. The mean increase in all eleven patients during the control period was 41.7 mg per 24 hours the day after methopyrapone. During estrogen therapy, the mean increase was only 10.9 mg in 24 hours, a value significantly different (p<.02) from the response during the control period. Exogenous ACTH produced a normal response in seven patients studied during estrogen therapy. Several possibilities for the mechanism of the observed effect of estrogen on such a response have been discussed.