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* Service de Chirurgie and Service de Médecine Interne et Laboratoire d'Investigation Clinique, Institut Jules Bordet, Centre des Tumeurs de l'Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1 rue Héger-Bordet, Brussels, Belgium and Human Reproduction Research Unit, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Hôpital Saint-Pierre, Brussels, Belgium

(Received 14 November 1977)

The regulation of the production of steroid sex hormones in postmenopausal women is not well understood. Since the conversion of the adrenal steroids 4-androstene-3,17-dione and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) or its sulphate within the peripheral non-endocrine tissues is the most important source of steroid sex hormones in such women (Baird, Horton, Longcope & Tait, 1969; Grodin, Siiteri & McDonald, 1973), we have investigated the role of corticotrophin (ACTH) in this process.

Three women (64–78 years old, 14–28 years after the menopause) were given a constant infusion of synthetic β^1–24-ACTH (0·25 mg in 250 ml 5% glucose solution) for 2 h and blood was withdrawn at