Progesterone, oestradiol-17 beta and testosterone levels in the follicular fluid of tertiary follicles and Graafian follicles of human ovaries.

Abstract

Radioimmunoassays of testosterone (T), oestradiol-17 beta (Oe2) and progesterone (P) in the fluid of a total of 47 follicles of different degrees of maturity gave the following mean values: T: 49 ng/ml, Oe2: 932 ng/ml, P: 999 ng/ml. In normal, atretic and cystic tertiary follicles not larger than 1 cm and without luteinized theca interna the following mean values were calculated: T: 54 ng/ml, Oe2: 502 ng/ml, P: 368 ng/ml. In six women mature and less mature follicles were compared, the former having significantly higher Oe2 and higher P values but significantly lower T values than the latter. Genuine Graafian follicles were observed four times, once after HMG stimulation; the values observed lay within the following ranges: T: 12-35 ng/ml, Oe2: 1900-4100 ng/ml, P: 156-6000 ng/ml. The difference in concentration compared with cubital-vein blood before ovulation was highest for Oe2, suggesting a particularly marked aromatinzing activity of the follicles of that phase of the cycle. The findings suggest that in the course of accelerated follicular ripening prior to ovulation both the aromatizing enzyme and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase are activated, resulting in a sharper rise in Oe2 and P. The profuse production of P causes a transistory lack of precursors for androgen and oestrogen production (T and Oe2 declines). In the course of an overall increase in steroid production during the luteal phase - which probably goes hand in hand with an increased supply of pregnenolone - there is not only a pronounced rise in progesterone but also a moderate increase in oestrogen production. The androgens are transformed more rapidly into oestrogens on account of the marked activity of the aromatizing enzyme in the corpus luteum and thus show a decline in the luteal phase.