Photo-induced electron emission from 17β-estradiol and progesterone and possible biological consequences

It was established for the first time, that the sexual hormones 17β-estradiol (17βE2) and progesterone (PRG) are able to emit electrons from their excited single state in water–ethanol mixtures. The yield of the “solvated electrons” ( e s - ) depends on the substrate concentration, the ratio of water–alcohol-mixtures and the temperature. The e s - yield obtained from 17βE2 is by two orders of magnitude higher than this of PRG. The possible relationship of the resulting hormone transients from 17βE2 leading via specific metabolites to breast cancer is discussed.