Hormone secretion by the human ovaries
Abstract
The secretory function of both human ovaries was studied simultaneously by comparing the concentrations of several steroids in the effluent blood from the two ovaries with their concentrations in the peripheral blood. As expected, progesterone and estradiol emerged as important secretory products. In both the preovulatory and postovulatory phases of the menstrual cycle, significant amounts of 17Α-hydroxyprogesterone and androstenedione were found. In two cases dehydroepiandrosterone was present in high concentration in ovarian vein blood. 20Α-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3-one, but not 20Β-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3-one, was consistently secreted by the corpus luteum. Small amounts of estrone and testosterone may be secreted by the ovary. In two ases with bilateral ovulation, there was a similarity between the steroid output of the two corpora lutea. In one subject studied following clomiphene treatment, anatomical as well as biochemical vidence of a hyperstimulated state was demonstrated. None of the steroids studied were secreted by the ovaries of a postmenopausal woman with the possible exception of androstenedione. While the bulk of the hormones was secreted by the ovary bearing the ripe follicle or the corpus luteum, the data indicate that the contralateral ovary actively secretes androgenic steroid hormones, especially androstenedione.
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Ovarian steroid output varies considerably during menstrual cycle - 17β-estradiol is primary steroid produced during follicular phase, while progesterone is principal steroid during luteal phase.
“Ovarian steroid output varies considerably during the course of the menstrual cycle – 17β-estradiol is the primary steroid produced during the follicular phase, while progesterone is the principal steroid during the luteal phase [[77], [78], [79]].”
From Human steroid biosynthesis, metabolism and excretion are differentially reflected by serum and urine steroid metabolomes: a comprehensive review (2019) · cites this paper as [78]
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“In addition to these sex steroids, the ovaries secrete androgens, such as testosterone (T) and precursors to T such as androstenedione (A4) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) [1–3], which have little androgenic activity, but can be peripherally converted to more potent androgens [4].”
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“In females, androgens are secreted from the ovaries and adrenal glands, and produced via peripheral conversion from precursors (de Jong et al. 1974; Lloyd et al. 1971; Mikhail 1970; Piltonen et al. 2002).”
- Authors
- Mikhail, G.
- Corresponding author
- Mikhail, G.
- Venue
- Gynecologic Investigation
- Publisher
- S. Karger AG
- Published
- 2010-03-19
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 5-20
- ISSN
- 0017-5986 (ISSN-L)
- 2571-6581
- OpenAlex
- W1988030607
- Cited by
- 66
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Gynecologic Investigation (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Biology and Fertility
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
- Keywords
- ovarian steroid secretion, human ovary, corpus luteum, progesterone, estradiol, androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, estrone, testosterone, menstrual cycle, ovulation, clomiphene citrate, ovarian hyperstimulation, postmenopausal women
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Androstanes, Carbon Isotopes, Chromatography, Paper, Chromatography, Thin Layer, Corpus Luteum, Estradiol, Estrogens, Estrone, Female, Humans, Methods, Middle Aged, Ovary, Ovulation, Progesterone, Testosterone, 17-Ketosteroids
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