Metabolism of estrone sulfate by normal breast tissue : Influence of menopausal status and oral contraceptives

• The metabolism of [ 3 H]estrone sulfate ([ 3 H]E 1 S) was studied in normal breast tissue from 10 premenopausal women without oral contraceptives (OC), in 12 OC users and in 9 untreated postmenopausal women. [ 3 H]E 1 S was converted into estrone ([ 3 H]E 1 ) and estradiol-17β ([ 3 H]E 2 ) by tissue samples from all three groups of women, with only minor formation of other unconjugated compounds. The rate of [ 3 H]E 2 formation was significantly higher in premenopausal women without OC than in postmenopausal women. Among premenopausal women, OC users had a significantly lower rate of total hydrolysis and of [ 3 H]E 1 formation than non-users. The rate of total hydrolysis of [ 3 H]E 1 S in normal breast tissue from all three groups of women was similar to that in muscle, but the rate of [ 3 H]E 2 formation was ten times higher. Both total hydrolysis rate and rate of [ 3 H]E 2 formation were significantly lower in normal breast tissue than in breast carcinoma and in normal and neoplastic endometrium. The specific ability of normal breast tissue to convert E 1 S into the terminal biologically active estrogen E 2 may be important for estrogenic stimulation of the breast in subjects with low circulating E 2 levels. The lower rate of E 1 formation in OC users may reflect an inhibitory effect of the progestagen compound in such preparations.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

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