Metabolism of estrone sulfate in human endometrium.

The metabolism of [3H] estrone sulfate was studied in endometrial tissue obtained from postmenopausal women with atrophic endometrium (I), benign endometrial proliferative changes (II) and endometrial carcinoma (III) and in perimenopausal women with proliferative (IV) and secretory (V) endometrium. Total hydrolysis (i.e. formation of [3H] estrone + [3H] estradiol-17 beta) of [3H] estrone sulfate as well as formation of [3H] estradiol-17 beta only was significantly less in group I than in the other groups. The formation of [3H] estradiol-17 beta was greater in group V than in the other groups. It is speculated that formation of estradiol-17 beta in the endometrium from estrone sulfate may be of importance in the genesis of endometrial disorders in the postmenopausal woman.