Changes in sex hormone-binding globulin binding capacity and percent free estradiol during development in the female rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta): relation to the metabolic clearance rate of estradiol.

Circulating sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) binding capacity and percent free estradiol (% free E2) were measured in separate groups of female rhesus monkeys from 2 months of age through adulthood (greater than 4.5 yr old). The SHBG concentration alone was also measured in 11 adult and 6 sexually immature animals on the same day as the blood MCR of E2. Serum SHBG levels were the highest (range, 12-25 micrograms T/dl) and the % free E2 the lowest (0.88%) in animals 6 months old or less. After the age, serum SHBG binding capacity declined generally at an average rate of 0.11 SHBG U (microgram T/dl)/month toward a nadir in adulthood. There was no difference in the SHBG levels in the follicular or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The relative blood MCR E2 and circulating SHBG binding capacity were significantly greater (P less than 0.001) in the sexually immature animals [MCR E2, 48.4 +/- 5.2 (SEM) liters/day . kg body wt; SHBG, 9.8 +/- 1.0 microgram T/dl, n = 6] than in adult animals (MCR E2, 27.7 +/- 1.7 liters/day kg body wt; SHBG, 4.6 +/- 0.3 microgram T/dl, n = 11). There was no relation between the MCR E2 and circulating SHBG levels within each group of adult or immature animals. The mean % free E2 doubled (to 1.6%) between 1 and 54 months of age; there was no relation between total circulating E2 and % free E2. Although a high SHBG binding capacity and a low % free E2 in the circulation of the immature animal does not inhibit the metabolic clearance of E2; it remains possible that these factors (and others) may hinder the access of E2 to reproductive target tissues and thereby contribute to the slow acquisition of reproductive competence in this species.