Studies using pharmacological gonadotropin stimulation suggest that ovarian steroidogenesis is abnormal in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We assessed ovarian steroid secretion in response to near-physiological gonadotropin stimuli in 12 ovulatory controls and 7 women with PCOS. A gonadotropin-releasing hormone-receptor antagonist (ganirelix, 2 mg sc) was given to block endogenous LH secr...

Steroid drugs with contraceptive properties have been available in the clinical setting for over four decades and are still subject to improvement. Estrogens, progestins and anti-progestins have been used alone or in various combinations, regimens and routes of administration to favour the balance between efficacy and undesirable effects. One of the most important changes in this respect is the...

In the cycling human endometrium, the expression of interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) and of several related matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) follows the late-secretory fall in sex steroid plasma concentrations and is thought to be a critical step leading to menstruation. The rapid and extensive lysis of interstitial matrix that precedes menstrual shedding requires a strict control of these prot...

Background: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is defined by the association of amenorrhea, hypoestrogenism and elevated (menopausal) levels of serum gonadotropins before age of 40 years-old. This condition affects approximately %1 of women under 40 years of age. Physiologic replacement of ovarian steroid hormones seems rational until the age of normal menopause. Temporary return of ovarian functi...

A method for maintaining primary cultures of ovarian cells in serum-free medium in which the metabolic functions of the androgen-producing cells can be studied is described. Freshly dispersed cells from ovaries of hypophysectomized immature rats contained interstitial cells with specific, high affinity lZ5I-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) binding sites which were functionally coupled to aden...

This career retrospective describes how the initial work on the mechanism of hormone action provided the tools for the study of hirsutism, virilism, and polycystic ovarian disease. After excessive ovarian and or adrenal androgen secretion in polycystic ovarian disease had been established, the question whether the disease was genetic or acquired, methods to manage hirsutism and methods for the ...

Sex cord-stromal tumors account for 5% of ovarian tumors and 2% of malignant ovarian tumors. Steroid cell tumors (SCT), not otherwise specified (NOS), are rare sex cord-stromal tumors of the ovary and account for less than 0.1% of all ovarian tumors. We report a rare case of a post-menopausal woman presented with hirsutism, virilism and with findings of hyperestrogenism.

A case of adrenal-like tumor of the left ovary with peripheral and ovarian venous sex steroid levels is reported. High levels of androstenedione and testosterone together with normal levels of dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate from the left ovarian vein infer a tumor derivation from transformation of the ovarian stromal cells.

CONTEXT P450 oxidoreductase (POR) is a crucial electron donor to all microsomal P450 cytochrome (CYP) enzymes including 17α-hydroxylase (CYP17A1), 21-hydroxylase (CYP21A2) and P450 aromatase. Mutant POR causes congenital adrenal hyperplasia with combined glucocorticoid and sex steroid deficiency. P450 oxidoreductase deficiency (ORD) commonly presents neonatally, with disordered sex development ...