THE INFLUENCE OF STEROIDS ON URINARY GONADOTROPIN EXCRETION IN A POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMAN*†

Abstract

Urinary excretion of human pituitary gonadotropin (HPG) was studied in a postmenopausal subject following the administration of methyltestosterone, conjugated estrogens or norethisterone (17α-ethynyl-19-nortestosterone, Norlutin). HPG excretion was measured by the mouse uterine response, employing cstrone as the standard reference material. Daily consecutive assays were made. Methyltestosterone in oral dosages of 5, 25, 50 or 100 mg. daily did not significantly alter HPG excretion. Conjugated estrogens in an oral dosage of 0.25 mg. daily increased HPG excretion on the fifth day of administration; there was a return to control levels immediately after withdrawal of medication. A dosage of 2.5 mg. of conjugated estrogens daily was tested twice with the following results: 1) HPG excretion was completely suppressed within five days but rose to control values thirteen days after cessation of medication; 2) HPG excretion was diminished on the seventh day, and the reduction was maintained until four days after withdrawal of medication. Conjugated estrogens in a dosage of 5 mg. daily diminished HPG excretion on the last day of administration; excretion rose to control levels on the ninth day after cessation of medication. Estrone sulfate in a daily dosage of 2.5 mg. did not significantly alter HPG excretion. Norethisterone (Norlutin) in oral dosages of 5 and 10 mg. daily did not alter HPG excretion; 20 mg. daily caused diminution of HPG excretion on the sixth day of administration, and there was a return to control levels four days after withdrawal of medication.