Testosterone and Androstenedione Blood Production Rates in Normal Women and Women with Idiopathic Hirsutism or Polycystic Ovaries*

Abstract

Summary. The average plasma testosterone concentration of women with either hirsutism or polycystic ovaries and hirsutism was higher (p < 0.01) than that of normal women although the ranges overlapped. Testosterone blood production rates averaged 830 ± 120 SE and 1,180 ± 310 SE ,ug per day in the two groups of hirsute women and 230 ± 33 SE ,ug per day in normal women. The ranges did not overlap.The testosterone metabolic clearance rates of hirsute women (1,090 ± 140 SE L per day) and of men (1,240 + 136 SE L per day) were significantly higher than those of normal women (590 + 44 SE L per day). These differences persisted when the metabolic clearance rates were corrected for surface area. We suggest that testosterone metabolic clearance rates vary directly with some function of testosterone production.The mean plasma androstenedione levels (2.8 ± 0.35 SE and 2.8 + 0.30 SE ,ug per L) and production rates (6,060 ± 450 SE and 7,360 + 345 SE ,ug per day) of the women with hirsutism or polycystic ovaries, respectively, were significantly higher than those of normal women (1.5 + 0.22 SE pg per L; 3,300 + 830 SE pg per day). The androstenedione metabolic clearance rates were the same in each group. Plasma androstenedione was the precursor of 49% of plasma testosterone in normal women and of 26% of plasma testosterone in hirsute women. Thus, 74% of the plasma testosterone in these subjects must have been either secreted or derived from a precursor that did not enter the plasma androstenedione pool.

Hormonal contributions to the recruitment of follicular development following ovarian wedge resection in polycystic ovary syndrome.

“…It has been known that there is increased ovarian androgen production in patients with PCO (Southren et al, 1969: Bardin and Lipsett, 1967: De Vane et al, 1975: Kasuga, 1980. Preoperative levels of androstenedione in our patients with typical PCO ranged between 2.0-3.4ng/ml, which exceeded serum levels (0.5-1.5ng/ml) observed in normal women.…”

Androgens and human hair growth

“…Bardin & Lipsett, 1967;James & Andre, 1974;Sawers et al, 1982) and blood production rates are raised (Bardin & Lipsett, 1967; Kirschner e f al., 1976). Sex hormone binding globulin levels (SHBG) are also generally low (e.g.…”

The effect of obesity on the ratio of type 3 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNA to cytochrome P450 aromatase mRNA in subcutaneous abdominal and intra-abdominal adipose tissue of women

“…Conversion of androstenedione in peripheral tissues accounts for approximately 50% of the testosterone production in normal premenopausal women 1,2 and 100% of estrogen production in postmenopausal women. 3 These conversions, catalysed by 17b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17b-HSD) and cytochrome P450 arom (aromatase) respectively, have been demonstrated to occur in adipose tissue.…”