Production Rate of Deoxycorticosterone in Women during the Follicular and Luteal Phases of the Ovarian Cycle: The Role of Extraadrenal 21-Hydroxylation of Circulating Progesterone in Deoxycorticosterone Production*

Abstract

The fractional conversion of plasma progesterone to deoxycorticosterone (DOC) [.rho.] was determined in pregnant, nonpregnant and adrenalectomized women and men. The [.rho.] varies widely among persons, but the [.rho.] in a given subject is invariant regardless of plasma progesterone concentrations. The production rate of DOC (PR-DOC) during the follicular and luteal phases of the ovarian cycle of women, and the role of extraadrenal 21-hydroxylation of progesterone as a source of DOC during the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle were investigated. Four subjects were given i.v. infusions of [3H]-progesterone and [14C]DOC to determine [.rho.] and the PR-DOC during both phases of the ovarian cycle. The [.rho.] found in these subjects were within the range of values previously reported, i.e., 0.007 .+-. 0.001 (mean .+-. SEM [standard error of the mean]), and did not change during the cycle. The mean daily PR-DOC in these subjects during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle was 58 .mu.g/24 h, whereas the mean daily PR-DOC during the luteal phase was 318 .mu.g/24 h. In each subject the PR-DOC during the luteal phase was 4-7 times greater than the PR-DOC during the follicular phase of the cycle. The increase in plasma concentrations of DOC during the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle apparently results from extraadrenal formation of DOC from circulating progesterone.