Ovarian Production of Estrogens in Postmenopausal Women

The possible secretory capacity of the ovaries of 79 postmenopausal women with and without endometrial carcinoma using chemical enzymehistochemical and ultrastructural methods was investigated. The mean serum levels of estrone estradial and total estrogens were higher in ovarian effluent blood than the corresponding values in cubital venus blood. There was a positive correlation between the difference of total estrogens in ovarian and cubital vein sera and there were enzymehistochemical and ultrastrucutal findings in the ovarian tissue. No statistical differences were found in the peripheral mean values of estrone and total estrogens between the 2 groups. The mean level of estradiol however seemed to be higher and that of estriol lower in the carcinoma patients than in the controls. (Authors modified)