Plasma levels of adrenocorticotropin and cortisol in women receiving oral contraceptive steroid treatment

Abstract

The secretion rate and plasma concentration of the adrenocortical steroid cortisol is modified in subjects treated with estrogenic and/or progestational steroids. The effects of contraceptive steroids on the secretion of ACTH are poorly documented, however, In the current investigation, we found that concentrations of ACTH and cortisol in plasma obtained at 0800--0900 h from a group of women with normal cyclic menses (n = 4) ranged from 78--120 pg/ml and 77--137 ng/ml, respectively. Although significant cyclic changes in the plasma levels of LH, FSH, 17 beta-estradiol, and progesterone occurred during the ovarian cycle, no obvious cyclic fluctuations in plasma levels of ACTH or cortisol were observed. In women treated with Norinyl 1 + 80 (1.0 mg norethindrone plus 0.08 mg mestranol), plasma concentrations of LH, FSH, 17 beta-estradiol, and progesterone were significantly lower (P less than 0.001) than plasma levels of these hormones in normal women during the ovarian cycle. The mean daily plasma concentrations of ACTH were significantly lower (P less than 0.001), whereas plasma cortisol levels were significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in women treated with oral contraceptive steroids compared to the levels of these hormones in the untreated ovulatory women.

PIP: The effects of oral contraceptive treatment on the pituitary-adrenal axis were studied. Secretion rate and plasma concentration of the adrenocortical steroid cortisol was modified in subjects treated with estrogenic and/or progestational steroids. Concentrations of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol in plasma obtained at 0800-0900 hours from a group of women with normal cyclic menses (n=4) ranged from 78-120 pg/ml and 77-137 pg/ml, respectively. Although significant cyclic changes in plasma levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and progesterone occurred during the ovarian cycle, no obvious cyclic fluctuations in plasma levels of ACTH or cortisol were observed. Plasma concentrations of women treated with Norinyl 1 + 80 (1 mg of norethindrone and .08 mg of mestranol) of LH, FSH, estradiol, and progesterone were significantly lower (P .001) than plasma levels of these hormones in normal women during the ovarian cycle. Mean daily plasma concentrations of ACTH were significantly lower ( P .001), whereas plasma cortisol levels were significantly higher (P .001) in women treated with oral contraceptives compared to the levels of these hormones in untreated ovulatory women.