Time trend analysis of plasma unconjugated and sulfoconjugated estrone and 3 beta-delta 5-steroids in fetal and maternal sheep plasma in relation to spontaneous parturition at term.

Parturition in the sheep is preceded by a complex series of changes in both fetal and maternal plasma-steroid hormone concentrations. Using the chronically catheterized fetal sheep preparation, we measured unconjugated and sulfoconjugated pregnenolone, 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and estrone in fetal and maternal plasma over the final 20 days before spontaneous vaginal delivery at term. Where appropriate, third degree polynomial functions were fitted to the changing plasma hormone concentration profile. Fetal and maternal plasma pregnenolone and pregnenolone sulfate both fell from maximum values in the last 4 days of gestation. Fetal and maternal plasma estrone and estrone sulfate concentrations underwent a terminal rise over the last 4 days of gestation that was a mirror image of the fall in plasma pregnenolone and pregnenolone sulfate. Maternal 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone rose over the last 4 days of gestation. Fetal 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, maternal and fetal plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and fetal plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and fetal plasma dehydroepiandrosterone showed no trend during the period of study. Maternal plasma dehydroepiandrosterone rose over the last 4 days of gestation. These results support the view that increased activity of placental 17 alpha-hydroxylase and 17-20-desmolase is responsible for the conversion of C-21 steroids to estrogens at term. delta 5-Steroids are present in very high plasma concentrations in fetal sheep plasma and may constitute a more important precursor pool for estrogen biosynthesis than does circulating plasma progesterone.

Responsiveness and maximum secretory capacity of isolated fetal lamb adrenocortical cells throughout the last third of gestation.

Although considerable evidence implicates increased fetal adrenal function as a major factor in the initiation of parturition in the sheep, the mechanism responsible for this increased activity has not yet been determined. We have investigated the development of the function of fetal lamb adrenal cortical cells dispersed in vitro. There was no change in the sensitivity of the cells to synthetic ACTH (ACTH1-24), as demonstrated by the concentraton of ACTH1-24 producing a 50% maximum response in corticoid secretion. This finding does not support the suggestion that there is a qualitative change in fetal adrenal receptor function as term approaches. No stimulation of corticoid was observed after the administration of alpha MSH or PRL in vitro at any gestational age or of alpha MSH in vivo in four fetuses at 125--130 days gestation. Both the maximum output and the 50% maximum response in corticoid secretion of adrenal cells from term fetuses were similar to those of adrenal cells from adult ewes. A significant increase in the maximum output of corticoids per cell in response to ACTH1-24 occurs as early as 107 days gestation and continues steadily to term.

Androstenedione, testosterone, and estradiol concentrations in fetal and maternal plasma in late pregnancy in the sheep.

Fetal and maternal plasma concentrations of androstenedione, testosterone, and estradiol were measured in chronically catheterized pregnant sheep during late gestation, spontaneous term delivery, and premature delivery induced by the infusion of low doses of synthetic ACTH-(1-24) (ACTH) to the fetus at 120-130 days gestation. RIAs employing two different antisera directed at different sites of each molecule were used in combination with Celite column chromatography to ensure the specificity of the hormone measurements. Fetal plasma concentrations of all three hormones were greater than the respective maternal concentration at all periods investigated, except immediately before ACTH-induced delivery when fetal testosterone and estradiol concentrations were lower. These observations further support the hypothesis that delivery in the sheep is associated with the induction of placental 17 alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase by the increased conversion of progesterone to estrogens. The higher values of androstenedione than of testosterone also support the view that estrone is produced in larger quantities than estradiol and that estrone and estrone sulfate are good endocrine markers of the progress of the endocrine changes occurring immediately before parturition in the sheep.

Time-trend analysis of plasma cortisol concentrations in the fetal sheep in relation to parturition.

Using a cortisol RIA carefully validated for specificity in fetal ovine plasma, we studied plasma cortisol time-trend changes in eight chronically catheterized sheep fetuses in the last 22 days of gestation before the spontaneous onset of labor. Best fit exponential type curves were drawn for each individual fetus to define the time before the onset of labor at which fetal plasma cortisol was rising at different rates. Fetal plasma cortisol increased at a rate of 0.5 ng ml-1 day-1 as early as 17.1 days before labor in one fetus, whereas the mean value for all eight fetuses occurred 11.8 +/- 1.0 (SEM) days before labor. The rate of increase doubled to 1.0 ng cortisol ml-1 day-1 as early as 14.4 days before labor in one fetus, whereas the mean value for all eight fetuses occurred 9.3 +/- 0.9 days before labor. These findings suggest that the regulatory mechanisms responsible for the prelabor increase in fetal cortisol production are activated earlier in gestation than we previously thought.

Variability of midcycle estradiol positive feedback: evidence for unique pituitary responses in individual women.

In women the preovulatory estradiol (E2) level must reach a peak concentration and dose (strength and duration) to initiate the LH surge. The variability of the surge-initiating serum E2 level in individual women from cycle to cycle, however, has not been studied. Accordingly, we studied 24 normally ovulating women longitudinally during a total of 221 menstrual cycles (range, 4-17 cycles/woman). In those women we measured periovulatory serum E2 and LH concentrations daily from 3 days before the LH peak to the day after the LH peak. The mean peak E2 concentration was 343 pg/mL, and the mean E2 dose (concentration X time) was 979 pg/mL. When the values in individual women were compared between women by components of variance analysis of variance, the differences were significant (concentration, P less than 0.01; dose, P less than 0.005), indicating that individual women have discrete and characteristic responses to E2 positive feedback. When E2 peaks and doses from initial cycles were compared with subsequent cycles by regression analysis, there were strong positive correlations (peak: r = 0.47; P less than 0.001; dose: r = 0.60; P less than 0.001). Of the total group variance in mean E2 peak and mean dose, 67% of the peak and 54% of the dose variance resulted from an individual woman's cycle to cycle variability, while 33% of the peak and 46% of the dose variance was attributable to differences among the women's responses to positive feedback. We conclude that individual women have characteristic and predictable periovulatory E2 production, leading to a LH surge which is maintained from cycle to cycle; and approximately two thirds of the total variance in mean peak E2 concentration (67%) and approximately half the variance in mean dose (54%) are the result of cycle to cycle biological variability around this characteristic periovulatory pattern of E2 production.

Suppression of circulating delta 4-androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate during oral glucose tolerance test in normal females.

Extending a series of previous investigations on the regulatory interaction of insulin and androgens, this study tests the hypothesis that the physiological insulinemia after oral glucose suppresses circulating dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), and androstenedione (delta 4A) delta 4 in normal women. Accordingly, seven normal weight, ovulatory women were randomized to receive first either a 75 g glucose dose or a sham control for diurnal rhythm consisting of distilled water at 1700 h. After this insulin stimulus, DHEA-S suppressed below sham control at 90 and 120 min (P less than 0.05) whereas delta 4A suppress at 60, 90, and 120 min (P less than 0.05). Furthermore, as serum insulin increased after glucose, DHEA-S (r2 = 0.351, P less than 0.05) and delta 4A (r2 = 0.314, P less than 0.05) decreased in an inverse linear relationship with insulin. There was no significant suppression below sham at any point in time for DHEA, testosterone, or cortisol. Thus, the endogenous serum insulin response after oral glucose in normal women is associated with suppression of serum DHEA-S and delta 4A with absence of testosterone and cortisol suppression.

Interrelationships of circulating maternal steroid concentrations in third trimester pregnancies. III. Effect of intravenous cortisol infusion on maternal concentrations of estriol, 16 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, delta 5-pregnenolone, delta5-pregnenolone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and cortisol.

The effect of a large dose (1000 mg) of iv cortisol-hemisuccinate on circulating steroid concentrations in five women, 28--34 weeks, gestational age, is reported. Maternal concentrations of estriol, 16 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, delta 5-pregnenolone, delta 5-pregnenolone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and cortisol were measured by RIA before and at 8 and 12 h after iv cortisol infusions at 0 and 8 h. Data were evaluated by repeated measure analysis of variance. Estriol and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone suppressed initially (P less than 0.05) and suppressed further with retreatment and increased treatment time (P less than 0.05). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and progesterone suppressed initially (P less than 0.05) but did not suppress further with retreatment and increased treatment time (P greater than 0.05). delta 5-Pregnenolone and delta5-pregnenolone sulfate increased initially (P less than 0.05) but did not increase further (P greater than 0.05). Concentrations of 16 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone were unchanged by cortisol infusion initially (P greater than 0.1) and with retreatment and increased treatment time (P greater than 0.1).

The zona reticularis is the site of biosynthesis of dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in the adult human adrenal cortex resulting from its low expression of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

Based on indirect evidence, it has often been assumed that the zona reticularis of the adult human adrenal cortex is the source of the adrenal androgens, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), but direct tests of this concept have been few. Using the techniques of cell culture, Northern blotting, and RIA, we compared the properties of separated adult zonal cells to those of fetal zone cells, a cell type well known to secrete large amounts of DHEA(S) due to its low expression of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta HSD). In nine glands from donors of a wide age range, the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis were separated and dissociated, and the cells were placed in culture. After 5 days, serum was removed by a 24-h period in serum-free defined medium followed by a 24-h exposure to cAMP analogs, with the optional addition of insulin, also in serum-free medium. The separated fasciculata and reticularis cells showed large differences in the DHEA(S)/cortisol (F) production ratios from added pregnenolone precursor, consistent with the synthesis of only F and essentially no DHEA(S) by fasciculata cells and with the synthesis of mostly DHEA(S) with little or no F by both reticularis cells and fetal zone cells. The different patterns of steroidogenesis were accompanied by a much lower level of expression of type II 3 beta HSD in reticularis cells, similar to that in fetal zone cells. In contrast, other genes were similarly regulated in the two adult zones and in the fetal zone by both cAMP and insulin. The levels of messenger ribonucleic acids for 17 alpha-hydroxylase, cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, 21-hydroxylase, and 11 beta-hydroxylase responded to cAMP and insulin in both reticularis cells and fetal zone cells in the same pattern as that previously established in fasciculata cells. The central role of the limited expression of 3 beta HSD in the DHEA(S)-synthesizing property of reticularis cells was established by inhibition of 3 beta HSD in fasciculata cells with trilostane, which caused them to increase their DHEA/F production ratio to a level exceeding even that in fetal zone cells. There did not appear to any age-related changes in gene expression that could account for the large age-related decline in DHEA(S) biosynthesis in humans in either reticularis or fasciculata cells. Thus, the most likely cause of the age-related decline in adrenal androgen biosynthesis is an age-related decline in the number of functional reticularis cells, without a major change in the differentiated properties of the zonal cells as a function of age.

Subhourly variability of circulating third trimester maternal steroid concentrations as a source of sampling error.

Seven plasma samples from five normal third trimester pregnant women, drawn every 5 and 15 min at similar times on 2 days, 2 days apart, were measured in quadruplicate for estradiol (E2), estriol, progesterone, 16 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17P). The mean of the 22 samples obtained from each subject for each steroid was used as a reference mean. Individual determinations were converted to percentages of the reference mean which was normalized to 0%. All pregnancies were uncomplicated, and all mean values were within the normal range for gestational age. Variability about the reference mean for single samples, however, range from a low of -80% to a high of 150%. The single sample, 95% confidence intervals for individual steroids pooled from the five subjects (110 determinations) range from +/- 36% (E2) to +/- 60% (17P). Mean percentage coefficients of variation between 5-min and 15-min sampling sequences were compared by analysis of variance. There is no significant difference between the mean percentage coefficients of variation of a 5-min as opposed to a 15-min sampling sequence for any of the hormones measured. The 95% confidence interval width around the reference mean is a function of the number of samples obtained. Because the 95% confidence interval width from 110 measurements decreases approximately as 1/ square root n with increasing sampling size, the decrement progressively diminishes. For E2, the least variable steroid, a one-sample 95% confidence interval width of +/- 36% decreases to approximately +/- 18% with four samples or approximately +/- 12% with nine samples. For 17P, the most variable steroid, a one-sample 95% confidence interval width of +/- 60% decreases to approximately +/- 30% with four samples or approximately +/- 20% with nine samples. Multiple sampling with plasma pooling is required for the accurate study of steroid concentrations in individual subjects in late pregnancy.

Simultaneous comparison of delta 5-3beta-hydroxysteroid levels in the fetoplacental circulation of normal pregnancy in labor and not in labor.

Concentrations of pregnenolone (delta5P), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 16alpha-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone (16alpha-OH DHEA), pregnenolone sulfate (delta5P-S), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) were measured simultaneously by radioimmunoassay in individual, paired umbilical artery (UA) and vein (UV) sera from 18 normal term pregnancies, 6 in labor, 12 not in labor. Mean UA and UV levels +/- SEM (ng/ml) were for delta5P: 30.39 +/- 1.69, 35.55 +/- 3.06; DHEA: 12.31 +/- 2.34, 3.66 +/- 0.38; 16alpha-OH DHEA: 7.48 +/- 0.63, 10.59 +/- 0.78; delta5P-S: 1,652 +/- 154, 1,486 +/- 130; DHEA-S: 2,122 +/- 134, +/- 134, 1,906 +/- 134. Umbilical artery delta5P-S, DHEA-S, and DHEA levels were significantly higher than UV levels, whereas the reverse was true for delta5P and 16alpha-OH DHEA. The inverse arterio-venous (A-V) gradient for 16alpha-OH DHEA was contrary to previous published reports using pooled samples. Comparison by linear regression of paired UA and UV steroid concentrations of delta5P, delta5P-S, DHEA, and DHEA-S revealed a significant correlation (P less than 0.01) for each steroid. Labor was associated with a significant increase in UA levels of DHEA-S and a smaller, but not quite significant, increase in UA levels of delta5P-S, while similar changes for unconjugated delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroids were not observed. Mean A-V gradients between the group of patients in labor and those not in labor were not significantly different. These data demonstrate that: 1) a significant difference between UA and UV concentrations exists for delta5P, DHEA, 16alpha-OH DHEA, delta5P-S, and DHEA-S; 2) there is a significant correlation between UA and UV concentrations for delta5P, DHEA, delta5P-S, and DHEA-S, implying that each fetoplacental unit maintains an equilibrium relative to these steroid concentrations in the umbilical circulation; 3) labor is associated with a significant increase in UA levels of DHEA-S and probably of delta5P-S.

Interrelationships of circulating maternal steroid concentrations in third trimester pregnancies. II. C18 and C19 steroids: estradiol, estriol, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, delta 5-androstenediol, delta 4-androstenedione, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone.

This report describes aggregate time trend effects of advancing gestational age on circulating maternal concentrations of 17beta-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), dehydroepiandrosterone (D), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (D-S), delta 5-androstenediol (delta 5 diol), delta 4-androstenedione (delta 4 A), testosterone (T), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in a sequential series of 155 blood samples obtained from 19 normal pregnant women ranging from 26-40 weeks gestational age. Only E2, E3, and D-S show aggregate time trend effects. Log (E2) plots as a linear positive sloping curve from 26-40 weeks. Log (E3) plots as a positive sloping curve that is significantly steeper than log (E2) (P less than 0.05). Log (D-S) plots into a negative sloping curve which mirrors the pattern for log (E2) but cannot be statistically associated with log (E2) except for the opposite sign of their slopes, which are both significantly different from a zero slope (P less than 0.05). delta 4 A, T, DHT, delta 5 diol, and D show no aggregate time trends; however wide, comoving undulations for delta 4 A, T, DHT, and delta 5 diol between 26-28 and 38-40 weeks are confirmed in time by comparison of log mean plots and in magnitude by regressing the C19 steroids on one another. D shows virtually no association with the other C19 steroids. All C19 steroids, except for T, circulate at nonpregnant concentrations, implying that there is little placental secretion of these steroids into the maternal circulation.

Divergent correlations of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone with insulin levels and insulin receptor binding.

We evaluated the insulin response to a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and in vitro insulin binding to erythrocytes (RBC) in 26 women from 3 groups: Group NW, normal women (n = 11); Group DS, women (n = 9) with elevated serum DHEAS concentrations, greater than 400 micrograms/dl (greater than 10.84 mumol/L); and Group IR, women (n = 6) with elevated basal plasma insulin concentrations (IRI). There was a significant linear correlation between the area under the insulin response curve (IRI-AUC) and serum testosterone (T) (r = 0.78, p = 0.0001). Using stepwise multiple linear regression, IRI-AUC was characterized as a function of both serum T and DHEAS; positively with T and negatively with DHEAS. In vitro (n = 17), there was a positive correlation between RBC-insulin binding and serum DHEAS (r = 0.54, p = 0.029) and a negative correlation between RBC-binding and T (r = -0.57, p = 0.017). We conclude that DHEAS may enhance insulin binding and action and that DHEAS and T have divergent functional relationships with IRI. DHEAS and T may therefore exert opposing effects on insulin secretion and action.

Genetic diagnosis of the preimplantation embryo.

Genetic diagnosis and therapy is well established in the antenatal period. The advancement of uterine and in vitro fertilization allow access to the early blastocyst. Simultaneously, laboratory techniques are being miniaturized to be sufficiently sensitive and specific for diagnosis with only a few cells. Thus genetic diagnosis and therapy may be extended from the antenatal patient to the antegravid patient. This article discusses the techniques of uterine lavage and in vitro fertilization as well as the diagnostic possibilities that this early embryonic period offers.

Mechanisms of insulin inhibition of ACTH-stimulated steroid secretion by cultured bovine adrenocortical cells.

Results of previous studies indicated that insulin at levels comparable to those in humans during hyperinsulinemia decreased ACTH-stimulated cortisol and androstenedione secretion by bovine adrenal fasciculata-reticularis cells in primary culture. In the present studies this inhibitory action was examined further by comparing the effects of insulin on ACTH-stimulated corticosteroid secretion with its effects on 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (cpt-cAMP), forskolin- and [5val]angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated corticosteroid secretion. Effects on corticosteroid secretion were correlated with effects on cAMP accumulation and rates of cAMP production. Monolayers were incubated for 24 h in the absence or presence of each agonist alone or in combination with insulin. Insulin (1.7 x 10(-9) or 17.5 x 10(-9) M) caused about a 50% decrease in cortisol and androstenedione secretion in response to ACTH (10(-11) or 10(-8) M). Insulin also decreased ACTH-stimulated aldosterone secretion by cultured glomerulosa cells. Cpt-cAMP (10(-4) or 10(-3) M)-stimulated increases in cortisol and androstenedione secretion were inhibited by insulin, but to a lesser extent than those in response to ACTH. The inhibition of cpt-cAMP-stimulated steroid secretion was not related to increased degradation of the cyclic nucleotide. Increases in cortisol and androstenedione secretion caused by a submaximal concentration (10(-6) M) of forskolin were decreased 50-70% by insulin. In contrast, insulin failed to significantly affect cortisol or androstenedione secretion caused by a maximal concentration (10(-5) M) of forskolin. The secretory responses to Ang II (10(-8) M) were also unaffected by insulin. The effect of insulin to inhibit ACTH-stimulated steroid secretion was accompanied by a reduction in cAMP accumulation as well as an apparent inhibition of adenylate cyclase activation. These data indicate that the effect of insulin to attenuate ACTH-stimulated corticosteroid secretion results from both an inhibition of ACTH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and an antagonism of the intracellular actions of cAMP.

Peripheral and Ovarian Steroids in Ovarian Hyperthecosis.

Serum levels of cortisol (F), pregnenolone (delta5-P), 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-delta5-P), progesterone (P), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-P), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), 5alphadihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulfate (DHEA-S), estrone (E1), and estradiol-17beta (E2) were measure in 2 virilized patients with ovarian hyperthecosis. Daily morning blood samples were obtained for 6 consecutive days. Dexamethasone (Dex) 2 mg/day was administered orally starting after venipuncture on the second day and continued for 5 days. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was administered intramuscularly on the afternoon of the fourth and fifth days. Following the suppression-stimulation test, both patients underwent abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. At the time of surgery, samples of peripheral and ovarian vein blood were obtained for steroid measurements. Blood samples were also obtained postsurgery to evaluate the effect of ovariectomy on the steroid levels. Of significance were the following observations: 1)Although both patients were eumenorrheic, no corpus luteum or corpus albicans was seen on histologic examination of the ovaries. 2)Of the androgens measured, only peripheral T and DHT were elevated and did not suppress on Dex treatment, but decreased to low levels following ovariectomy, pointing toward the ovary as the source of excess T and DHT. Both patients had elevated T and DHT in the ovarian vein samples. 3)In 1 patient the ovarian vein samples shoed elevated F levels with a significant ovarian-peripheral venous gradient for this steroid, and indication of ovarian secretion of F in this patient. 4)The levels of 17-P were elevated in both patients, did not suppress on Dex, and increased markedly following hCG, suggesting the ovary as the source of excess 17-P. Since A levels were normal and did not increase concomitantly with 17-P levels following hCG, it is likely that the patients had a decreased activity of the ovarian C17-20 desmolase, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of 17-P to A.

The applications of steroid hormone radioimmunoassays to clinical obstetrics.

This is a selective survey of recent publications dealing with theoretical and established applications of steroid hormone radioimmunoassay procedures applied to clinical obstetric investigation. This subject is reviewed in three sections: first, basic principles of steroid hormone radioimmunoassay methodology; second, steroidogenesis in normal pregnancy and its relation to patterns of steroid hormones measured in maternal and fetal circulations; third, applied steroid radioimmunoassay technology as it is being used in established and potential clinical applications. It is concluded that steroid hormone radioimmunoassay procedures have been and will continue to be a highly productive technology applied to clinical obstetric investigation.

An algorithm for determining gestational age from unconjugated estriol levels.

Between the 30th and 40th weeks of gestational age (GA), plasma unconjugated estriol (E3) concentrations plotted as a logarithmic function of GA describe a complex bimodal curve. The maximum concentrations for the first peak (GAmax1) occur at approximately 34 weeks' GA, those for the second peak (GAmax2) occur at approximately 38 weeks' GA, and a between-mode nadir occurs at 35 weeks' GA. Using the close relationship between the features of this curve and GA, a computerized algorithmic curve analysis is devised for the estimation of GA during the third trimester of pregnancy. This report describes the algorithm, its clinical application, and its preliminary performance.

Oxytocin and prolactin responses in long-term breast-feeding.

Plasma levels of oxytocin and prolactin were measured before and during 12 minutes of breast pump stimulation in five healthy, lactating, amenorrheic women on three occasions: ten to 90 days post partum, 90 to 180 days post partum, and 180 days to one year post partum. Baseline mean (+/- SEM) plasma oxytocin levels were similar in the three study periods. Mean stimulated plasma oxytocin levels increased in the three study periods (each P less than .001; mean baseline versus stimulated). Stimulated plasma oxytocin values were significantly greater at ten to 90 than at 90 to 180 days (P less than .05; analysis of variance). Baseline serum prolactin levels were 61 +/- 9.5, 36 +/- 8.6, and 33 +/- 10.8 ng/ml, respectively (not significant; one-way analysis of variance). Mean stimulated prolactin levels were 71 +/- 8.1, 43 +/- 4.5, and 43 +/- 2.8 ng/ml, respectively (not significant). Thus, the oxytocin secretory reflex continues in long-term lactation for the first year post partum. In addition, breast stimulation in long-term lactating women continues to produce a slight increase in serum prolactin levels.

Corpus luteum activity in tubal pregnancy.

Corpus luteum activity was monitored in 20 women undergoing nonsurgical management of ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate and citrovorum factor (N = 15) or observation (N = 5). The functional integrity of the corpus luteum was assessed by measuring progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone. Trophoblastic viability was assessed by measuring the immunoreactive beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin. Ten of 15 methotrexate-treated patients demonstrated initial progesterone levels above 1.0 ng/mL, declining to levels below 1.0 ng/mL after treatment. Five of 15 methotrexate-treated patients and all five managed by observation alone demonstrated progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone values below 1.0 ng/mL both initially and throughout the surveillance period, leading to resolution, indicating previous death of the corpus luteum. We conclude the following regarding ectopic pregnancy: 1) Corpus luteum function declines early in the biologic history of some gestations while persisting in others, and 2) corpus luteum function varies from active to inactive independent of serum levels of immunoreactive beta-human chorionic gonadotropin.

Effect of dexamethasone on serum cortisol and androgen levels in hirsute patients.

The serum levels of the following steroids were measured in 59 hirsute patients before (control) and after (post-dexamethasone) administration of dexamethasone (Dex) for 7 days: cortisol (F), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulfate (DHEA-S), androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Assuming that Dex-suppressibility implied adrenal origin, the source of excess androgens was also evaluated. All patients showed elevated level of only one androgen: 4 had elevated DHEA-S; 4 had elevated T; 3 had elevated DHT. No patient had an elevated DHEA or A without an evelation of the other androgens. The control levels of DHEA-S were above normal in 45 patients; the DHT levels were elevated in 43 patients; 31 patients had elevated T levels; and 25 patients elevated A; and 24 patients, DHEA levels. In 32 patients with adequate suppression of adrenal androgens after 7 days of Dex administration, the source of excess androgens could be evaluated. Of 13 patients with elevated A levls, the excess A production was of adrenal origin in 6 cases, of ovarian origin in 5 cases, and of mixed origin in 2 cases. Of 15 patients with elevated T levels, the excess T production was of adrenal origin in 3 cases, of ovarian origin in 10 cases, and of mixed origin in the remaining 2 cases. Of 25 patients with elevated DHT levels, the excess DHT production was of adrenal origin in 16 patients, of ovarian origin in 5 patients, and of mixed origin in 4 patients. Of the 32 patients with an adequate Dex suppression test, 14 showed evidence of adrenal hyperandrogenism, 5 had ovarian hyperandrogenism, and mixed hyperandrogenism was present in the remaining 13 patients. There was an adrenal source of hyperandrogenism in 27 of 32 patients (14 pure adrenal and 13 mixed adrenal-ovarian), which represents 85% of the 32 patients.