Serum levels of cortisol (F), pregnenolone (.DELTA.5-P), 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-.DELTA.5-P), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), progesterone (P), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-P), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androst-5-ene-3.beta., 17.beta.-diol (.DELTA.5-diol), estrone (E1) and estradiol-17.beta. (E2) were measured in 10 postmenopausal and 5 premenopausal women before (control) and after 7 days of dexamethasone (post-dex). Control and post-dex levels of .DELTA.5-P, P, DHT, T and F were not different (P > 0.05) in premenopausal vs. postmenopausal women, while the control levels of 17-P, DHEA, DHEA-S, A, .DELTA.5-diol and E2 were lower in the postmenopausal women (P < 0.05). Assuming post-dex levels equal ovarian contribution, the ovarian contribution of 17-.DELTA.5-P, 17-P, DHEA, .DELTA.5-diol, A, E1 and E2 and the adrenal contribution (control-post-dex) to DHEA, DHEA-S, 17-P, A and .DELTA.5-diol was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in postmenopausal subjects.