Adrenal estrogens in relation to ovarian function

The effect of gonadotropins and ovarian hormones on adrenal estrogens in female rats was examined in relation to the ovarian function. Pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMS) increased adrenal estradiol level in intact rats but did not alter estrone levels. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) with PMS did not alter the estrone and estradiol levels. Neither PMS or HCG with PMS affected these steroid levels in ovariectomized rats. Injection of hexestrol to intact rats decreased the estrone level. Further decrease in the estrone level resulted after administration of hexestrol with progesterone. In a developmental study, the estrone level at 35 days of age was higher than that at 50 and 80 days of age. The estrone level gradually decreased with adrenal development after ovariectomy performed at 21 days of age. When adrenal slices were incubated with either 3H-estrone or 3H-estradiol, higher radioactivity of estrone accumulated in the adrenal gland of immature rats than in that of adult rats. There was a larger conversion of 3H-estradiol to 3H-estrone than the reverse process in both immature and adult rats. These results indicate that the adrenal estrogens were influenced by ovarian function.