Affiliation: | 1 Reproductive Medicine Unit, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 13, 40138, Bologna, Italy 2 A.I.R.C. (Italian Cancer Research Association), Medical Department, Italy 3 Ciba Geigy, Medical Department, Italy |
Abstract: | The plasma protein distribution of oestradiol (E2) and oestrone (E1) during transdermal E2 administration (100 μg/24 hr) was studied in 12 post-menopausal women. The E2 and E1 levels observed were 43–83 pg/ml and 37–73 pg/ml, respectively. The levels of the free, albumin-bound and sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) bound fractions were in the ranges 1.4–1.9%, 60–65% and 35–45%, respectively, in the case of E2, and 2.8–3.0%, 80–89% and 15–20%, respectively, in that of E1. The SHBG levels also remained unaltered. It was concluded that transdermal administration of E2 at the dosage employed produces a physiological plasma protein distribution of E2 and E1 and does not affect liver protein production. |