[Changes in steroid enzyme activities with age in human ovary].

It is well documented that sex hormone secretion decreases as age advances. In this study, 17 alpha-hydroxylase (17hy), 20 alpha(beta)-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (20-HSD), C17-20 lyase, 17 beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) and aromatase activities in ovarian tissues were examined in order to study the changes in steroid metabolism in human ovary with age. Tissues were obtained from women aged 30-81 years who had undergone gynecological laparotomy. Enzyme activities were measured by the conversion of 14C-labeled progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxy progesterone and androstenedione to amounts of corresponding labeled products. Remarkable reduction of C17-20 lyase and 17hy activities were noticed in the ovaries obtained from the women in the premenopausal stage when the activities were compared with those from reproduct women. However, the activities of aromatase, 17 beta-HSD and 20-HSD were not changed. Further, a decrease of 17hy activities was observed in the ovaries obtained from menopausal women. Aromatase activity was also reduced at this stage while the 17 beta-HSD and 20-HSD remained unchanged. In addition, the formation of 17 alpha, 20 beta-OH-P4 from 17P4 was first demonstrated indicating that activity of 20 beta-HSD in postmenopausal ovary and found to be localized in the microsomal fraction. These result indicated that the changes of ovarian steroid enzyme activities with age were characterized by a striking reduction in C17-20 lyase and 17hy activities while 17 beta-HSD and 20-HSD activities were not impaired. Aromatase activity was found to be decreased in ovaries at menopause.