estriol-3-glucuronide and estriol-3-sulfate

Topics: Amniotic Fluid; Electrophoresis, Capillary; Estriol; Female; Humans; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

We report a method for measuring estriol and its intact conjugates in urine, serum, and amniotic fluid. A single assay can be done within about 50 min, eight samples assayed in less than 5 h. A 70-microL urine sample is diluted and the estriol conjugates are adsorbed from it onto graphitized carbon black (Carbopack B, Supelco). After two washings, the analytes are desorbed with chloroform/methanol (60/40, by vol) containing tetrapropylammonium bromide. After solvent evaporation, the residue is redissolved in 100 microL of water/acetonitrile and 20 microL is injected into the chromatograph. Or 1 mL of serum or 0.5 mL of amniotic fluid is deproteinized with cold methanol, then passed through the Carbopack column. After three washings, the estriol and its conjugates are desorbed and treated as for urine. Mean analytical recoveries of the analytes in any of these body fluids were within about 92-98%, except for estriol-3-sulfate-16 alpha-glucuronide in serum (mean recovery 88.3%). The limit of sensitivity is well below the concentrations of clinical interest, and the method is not susceptible to substantial interferences.

Topics: Amniotic Fluid; Carbon; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Estriol; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); Female; Fluorometry; Humans; Pregnancy

A study was designed to compared the metabolic fate and the biologic effects of 4 mg of estriol (E3) administered either orally or vaginally to six postmenopausal women. Blood samples were collected every hour for 6 hours and five different estriol fractions as well as gonadotropins were measured. Vaginal E3 administration resulted in a decline of 45% in luteinizing hormone (LH) levels and 17% in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels at 6 hours after treatment (p < 0.05). In contrast, the administration of 4 mg of E3 orally did not produce a decline of LH and FSH, despite the fact that the serum levels of E3-3-sulfate, E3-3-sulfate-16-glucosiduronate, estriol-3-glucosiduronate, and estriol-16-glucosiduronate were all fourfold to 24-fold higher after oral administration than after vaginal estriol administration. However, since the levels of unconjugated E3 were higher after the vaginal than after the oral administration of estriol, we conclude that only unconjugated E3 suppresses gonadotropins.. The metabolic and biologic effects of 4 mg of estriol (E3) administered either orally or vaginally to 6 hypogonadal and postmenopausal women were studied. Blood samples were obtained every hour for 6 hours. 5 different estriol fractions as well as gonadotropins were measured by radioimmunoassay. Vaginal administration of 4 mg of E3 resulted 3 to 6 hours later in a decline of 13.5% to 19% in FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) levels (p 0.05) and 40.5 to 48.3% in LH (luteinizing hormone) levels (p 0.05). Oral E3 administration did not have any effect on FSH and LH levels (p 0.05) despite the fact that the serum levels of the 4 estriol fractions were 4- to 24-fold higher after oral administration than after vaginal estriol administration. The study shows that E3 possesses biologic activity in women as evidenced by the prompt suppression of LH following vaginal E3 administration. The biologic activity of E3 is attributed mainly to the levels of unconjugated E3 and not to the levels of various conjugates. It is not known whether estrogen replacement therapy with E3 is safer or as effective as other estrogen preparations.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Adult; Aged; Estriol; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Glucuronates; Humans; Luteinizing Hormone; Menopause; Middle Aged; Vagina