Effect of Estrogenic Substance on the Blood Sugar of Female Diabetics After the Menopause 1

Abstract

tion of the pituitary activity by estrogenic substance extends to other pituitary hormones. Thus, in cases of climacteric thyrotoxicosis, Hoet and Gessler (4) were able to effect a reduction in the basal metabolic rate from around plus 50 to norrnal by injections of large amounts of estrogenic substance. It is probable that the thyrotoxicosis in these cases was due to increased production of thyrotropic hormone.The effect of injections of estrogenic substance in diabetic conditions has been tested both experimentally and clinically. Barnes, Regan and Nelson (5) and Nelson and Overholser (6) improved the sugar tolerance and definitely prolonged life in depancreatized dogs (5) and monkeys (6) by estrin injections. Attempts also have been made to influence human diabetes. In 1928 Rathery and Rudolf (7) and Carnot, Terris and Caroli (8) claimed to have produced improvement in diabetic women by injections of estrin. The doses employed were so minute, however, (10 units) that it is unlikely that the changes which occurred were due to the influence of this small amount of estrogenic substance. Mazer, Meranze and Israel (9) have come to the conclusion that the blood sugar level of normal women remains unaffected by injections of large doses of estrogenic substance, but that the blood and urine of diabetic women who are subjected to similar treatment will show an appreciable decrease in the sugar content. These workers give little detailed information concerning their 3 patients except for the fact that the maximum fall observed in the fasting blood sugar values was 60 mgm. per 100 cc. Jones and MacGregor (10) injected 10 non-diabetic women past the menopause with large doses of estrin without any effect on the blood sugar. In 1936 Collens, SloBodkin, Rosenbliett and Boas ( 11 ) gave 7 diabetic patients injections of estrogenic substance and came to the conclusion that this procedure had 715

Biochemieal, endocrine, and other indices during quinestrol therapy

“…In both groups, the changes cited were accompanied by a decrease in serum immunoassayable insulin levels during the tolerance tests. In the past estrogens have been suggested as variables which improve glucose tolerance/' 23,24,40,42,43,47,61 though, in more recent data, improvement in as wen as decreases in carbohydrate tolerance have been cited. 22 , 29, 51, 52…”

The Fate of the Nontreated Postmenopausal Woman: A Plea for the Maintenance of Adequate Estrogen From Puberty to the Grave

“…These effects are subtle and difficult to evaluate. The lack of an inhibiting estrogenic influence on the pituitary probably accounts for the increased incidence of diabetes at the time of the menopause (27). Clinically, estrogen is employed to provide added protection in postmenopausal diabetes (28).…”

Pituitary Antagonists in the Treatment of Bronchial Asthma

“…Since the severity of the asthma was definitely reduced by es' trogen it was hoped that larger doses might produce bleeding continued, and the severity of the asthma remained about the same. No estrogen was given ' from Nov. 28,1940 to Dec. 8,1940, and the patient's condition became much worse. Moreover, on resunv ing stilbestrol therapy improvement was not as great or as sustained as en previous occasions.…”

“…This antagonistic action of estrogen on the pituitary is possessed also by the adrenal cortical hormone, the thyroid hormone, and others. Clinically this principle of endocrine therapy is rapidly becoming of great importance (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Its widest application is in the treatment of the meno' pausal syndrome.…”