A METHOD FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF PROGESTERONE, ANDROSTENEDIONE, TESTOSTERONE AND DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE SULPHATE IN BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS

Abstract

ABSTRACT A method is presented for the simultaneous determination of progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in biological fluids. The method has been applied for the investigation of the secretion of these compounds by the ovary as well as their concentration in ovarian cyst fluid and peripheral plasma. The concentrations of the three androgens were all found to be higher in ovarian venous plasma than in peripheral plasma, and are thus shown to be secreted by the human ovary. High concentrations of progesterone were found in the ovarian vein blood when a corpus luteum was present. In some cases progesterone was also found to be secreted by the ovary during the follicular phase. The data are discussed and found to be in agreement with the suggestion that progesterone and androgens are secreted by different anatomical compartments of the human ovary in vivo.