Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 3, 620-624,
March 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Ovarian and adrenal steroid production: regulatory role of LH/HCG
1 Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and 2 Clinical Chemistry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu and 3 Department of Physiology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
BACKGROUND: The contribution of the adrenal glands to the total circulating steroid pool in women is not well known. There is evidence that human adrenals express the LH receptor gene and that LH may affect adrenal androgen secretion. METHODS: HCG stimulation tests (a single dose of 5000 IU i.m.) were performed in women at reproductive age (group 1, n = 6, age 21–39 years) before and after treatment with a GnRH agonist for 3 weeks, and in oophorectomized post-menopausal women (group 2, n = 6, 47–59 years) during and after estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). RESULTS: HCG did not stimulate the secretion of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) in group 2. In contrast, in group 1, the basal concentrations of serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione, testosterone and estradiol (E2) were stimulated significantly (17-OHP 105%, androstenedione 31%, testosterone 20%, E2 136%) by HCG, and the treatment with GnRH agonist decreased the responses. The basal serum concentrations of these steroids were significantly lower in oophorectomized women (17-OHP 57%, androstenedione 46%, testosterone 25%), and HCG did not increase these levels. It can be approximated that the ovarian contribution to the circulating levels of 17-OHP, androstenedione and testosterone is 25–30%, and that the adrenals are the primary source of cortisol, DHEA and DHEAS. CONCLUSION: LH/HCG does not have a major role in the regulation of adrenal steroid synthesis in endocrinologically healthy women.
Key words: adrenal glands/HCG/LH/ovary/steroids
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oulu University Hospital, PO Box 5000, FIN-90014 University of Oulu, Finland. E-mail: juha.tapanainen{at}oulu.fi
Submitted on August 3, 2001; resubmitted on September 20, 2001
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