Splanchnic extraction of oestrone and oestradiol and production of oestrone sulphate in man

Abstract

Abstract. The plasma concentrations of oestrone (Oe1), oestradiol (Oe2) and oestrone sulphate (Oe1S) were measured in the femoral artery (FA), femoral vein (FV) and hepatic vein (HV) in seven men and three postmenopausal women undergoing catheterization for the evaluation of cardiac arrhytmias. None of the persons had congestive heart failure; conventional liver function tests were normal, and they were without any medication. The plasma concentration (mean ± sd) for Oe1 was 34.6 ± 19.5 pm in HV, 134 ± 71.6 pm in FV and 93.4 ± 48.5 pm in FA. The plasma concentration of Oe2 was 29.9 ± 19.7 pm in HV, 80.3 ± 42.7 pm in FV and 55.2 ± 28.1 pm in FA. The results support the concept of peripheral formation of Oe1 and Oe2 and hepatic removal. The plasma concentration of Oe1S was 980 ± 469 pm in HV, 945 ± 463 pm in FV and 937 ± 461 pm in FA. The small difference in plasma level of Oe1S between FA and FV was insignificant. In all persons the plasma level of Oe1S was higher in HV than in FA and FV (2P <0.01) indicating a net formation of Oe1S in the splanchnic area.