Testosterone in the molar vesicle fluid and theca-lutein cyst fluid

Abstract

Testosterone was estimated by radioimmunoassay in molar vesicle fluid in 41 patients and theca-lutein cyst fluid in 3 patients with hydatidiform moles. The testosterone concentration in the molar vesicle fluid ranged from 0.4 ng/ml to 28.1 ng/ml with a mean ±SEM of 6.0±1.0 ng/ml while in the theca-lutein cyst fluid, it ranged from 4.7 ng/ml to 23.5 ng/ml. Oestradiol-17β and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) were also estimated in the molar vesicle fluid. The oestradiol-17β concentration ranged from 0.1 ng/ml to 26.2 ng/ml with a mean ±SEM of 10.7±1.1 ng/ml. HCG concentration ranged from 18000 to 150000 mIU/ml with a mean ±SEM of 49800±5000 mIU/ml. A positive correlation was found between testosterone and oestradiol-17β (r = +0.37; PP>0.05). The findings suggest that molar trophoblast is the major source of testosterone.