Ovarian Secretion Rates of Oestrogens, Androgens and Progesterone in Normal Women and in Women With Persistent Ovarian Follicles

ABSTRACT The concentrations of oestradiol-17β, oestrone, androstenedione, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and progesterone were measured in ovarian venous plasma from one or both ovaries in 4 normal women during different stages of the menstrual cycle and in 4 women with persistent ovarian follicles. In addition the steroid concentrations in peripheral plasma and follicular fluid were estimated. All steroids mentioned, with the exception of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, were secreted by the ovaries. The concentrations of oestradiol-17β, oestrone, androstenedione and progesterone were higher in the venous plasma from the ovary containing the developing follicle or corpus luteum than in venous plasma from the contralateral ovary. There was a good correlation between ovarian secretion of the oestrogenic steroids and androstenedione. Finally, the quantitative contribution of the ovarian secretion to the blood production rates of the androgens and progesterone was calculated. The only contributions exceeding 20 % of the blood production rate were those of progesterone and androstenedione during the second half of the cycle.