Puberty in Boys: Correlation of Plasma Levels of Gonadotropins (LH, FSH), Androgens (Testosterone, Androstenedione, Dehydroepiandrosterone and Its Sulfate), Estrogens (Estrone and Estradiol) and Progestins (Progesterone and 17-Hydroxyprogesterone)

ABSTRACT In an attempt to find suitable animal models to aid in the study of the reproductive processes of the human male, plasma levels of unconjugated pregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 20α-dihydroprogesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, oestrone and oestradiol were measured in 18 male baboons and 10 male rhesus monkeys and the steroid levels were compared with those previously established in normospermic, middle-aged men. Significant species differences were found with regard to the three Δ5-steroids studied; whereas the approximate relationship of pregnenolone to 17-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone was 1:2:4 in men, the corresponding relationship was 1:5:30 in rhesus monkeys and 1:10:10 in baboons. Similar levels of 20α-dihydroprogesterone were found in the three species. On the other hand, the 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels in baboons were much lower and the levels of androstenedione lower than those found in men and in rhesus monkeys. No species difference was found with regard to circulating testosterone levels. However, both rhesus monkeys and baboons exhibited much higher levels of dihydrostestosterone than did men. Oestrone levels were higher in baboons than in men and oestradiol levels were higher in rhesus monkeys than in men and in baboons. The significant differences in circulating steroid levels suggest that further studies (including i.a. steroid analyses in testicular tissue, seminal plasma and spermatic artery and vein following both stimulation and suppression of testicular endocrine function) are required before preference can be given to any of the two species studied as a suitable animal model for the study of new fertility regulating agents.

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STUDIES ON THE PATTERN OF CIRCULATING STEROIDS IN THE NORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0820600 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 82 (3) ◽

pp. 600-616 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

A.-R. Aedo ◽

B.-M. Landgren ◽

Z. Cekan ◽

E. Diczfalusy

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Geometric Mean ◽

Mean Value ◽

Peak Period ◽

Lh Surge ◽

Proliferative Phase ◽

Normal Menstrual Cycle ◽

Menstruating Women ◽

17 Hydroxyprogesterone

ABSTRACT Plasma levels of 20α-dihydroprogesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and 17-hydroxypregnenolone were assayed daily in 15 normally menstruating women during a complete menstrual cycle. In order to ascertain the normalcy of the cycles studied, LH, progesterone and oestradiol were also determined daily. The pattern of 20α-dihydroprogesterone was very similar to that of progesterone. The levels found during the proliferative phase (around 240 pg/ml) increased significantly on the day of the LH-surge and reached values of approximately 3.7 ng/ml at the peak period of luteal activity. The plasma levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone in the proliferative phase were around 380 pg/ml. The first significant increase occurred one day before the LH-surge and was followed by a sharp peak (approximately 1.5 ng/ml) which coincided with the LH peak. A significant decrease occurred after this first peak, which reached a nadir two days after the LH-surge. This was followed by a second rise with a rather broad peak (about 1.8 ng/ml) around the 5th to 7th days after the LH-surge. The levels of 17-hydroxypregnenolone did not show any cyclic variation: from all figures a geometric mean value of 1.62 ng/ml was calculated with tolerance limits at 0.241 and 10.8 ng/ml. Individual day-to-day changes in steroid levels were assessed with regard to their potential for the early identification of the day of the LH-surge. A 17-hydroxyprogesterone value of 1.0 ng/ml, or more, was seen for the first time in the cycle on the day of the LH peak in 13 cycles and a progesterone + 17-hydroxyprogesterone level of at least 1.8 ng/ml in 14 of the 15 cycles studied. These data seem to warrant a study of the predictive value of progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone assays in a much larger population.

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A CASE OF ADRENOGENITAL SYNDROME WITH ABERRANT 11β-HYDROXYLATION

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0850832 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 85 (4) ◽

pp. 832-839 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

I. Maschler ◽

J. Weidenfeld ◽

A. Muller ◽

S. Slavin ◽

J. Shaefer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substrate Specificity ◽

Female Patient ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Urinary Cortisol ◽

Adrenogenital Syndrome ◽

Testosterone Treatment ◽

Menstrual Cycles ◽

Urinary Levels ◽

17 Hydroxyprogesterone

ABSTRACT A 17 year old female patient with hypertension, amenorrhoea and hirsutism was found to have subnormal levels of plasma and urinary cortisol, significant plasma levels of Reichstein's compound S and 21-deoxycortisol, high urinary levels of THS and pregnanetriolone as well as elevated levels of plasma and urinary testosterone. Treatment with 0.5 mg/day of dexamethasone or 25 mg/day cortisone reduced her hypertension and restored her menstrual cycles, but also resulted in the development of moon face, body striae and a gain in weight. Lower doses of cortisone were without effect. The deficient cortisol production coupled with the presence of unusual intermediates such as Reichstein's compound S and 21-deoxycortisol can be explained by a shift in the substrate specificity of 11β-hydroxylase from C-21-hydroxylated substrates (i.e. compound S) to C-21-deoxy substrates (i.e. 17-hydroxyprogesterone).

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PLASMA 20α-DIHYDROPROGESTERONE, PROGESTERONE AND 17-HYDROXYPROGESTERONE IN NORMAL HUMAN PREGNANCY

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0860634 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 86 (3) ◽

pp. 634-640 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Emma Florensa ◽

Robert Harrison ◽

Michael Johnson ◽

Ezat Youssefnejadian

Keyword(s):

Plasma Concentration ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

First Trimester ◽

Significant Drop ◽

Human Pregnancy ◽

Peripheral Plasma ◽

Normal Human ◽

First Trimester Of Pregnancy ◽

The Mean ◽

17 Hydroxyprogesterone

ABSTRACT The peripheral plasma levels of 20α-dihydroprogesterone (20α-DHP), progesterone (P) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) were measured by radioimmuoassay techniques in 440 samples during normal human pregnancy between weeks 4 and 41. The levels of 20α-DHP in plasma from the 4th to the 6th week were between 6.0 and 6.6 ng/ml. From then until the 21st week the average plasma 20α-DHP concentrations remained at the same level between 4.0 and 6.3 ng/ml; they then rose significantly to and beyond term, levels reaching over 40 ng/ml. The range of mean plasma concentration of P during the first trimester of pregnancy fell to a nadir in the 9th week (170 ng/ml) then rose with increased gestation until the 39th week (190.4 ng/ml) followed by a slight and not significant drop. Single measurements of plasma 17-OHP from the 4th to the 6th week of pregnancy gave value between 2.8 and 3.6 ng/ml, but from the 7th week the mean plasma 17-OHP levels gradually declined, then from week 30 the 17-OHP concentration increased to reach a mean level of 7.63 ng/ml in the 41st week. The ratio P/20α-DHP increased from the 4th (3.5:1) to the 24th week (15.6:1) and then decreased from the 25th week (7.9:1) towards term (3.2:1).

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Effects of surgery and epidural or general anaesthesia on testosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and cortisol plasma levels in prepubertal boys

Journal of Steroid Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/0022-4731(83)90360-6 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 1783-1787 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rodolfo Boninsegni ◽

Roberto Salerno ◽

Paola Giannotti ◽

Tiziana Andreuccetti ◽

Paolo Busoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Anaesthesia ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Prepubertal Boys ◽

17 Hydroxyprogesterone

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Plasma Levels of Aldosterone, Corticosterone, 11-Deoxycorticosterone, Progesterone, 17-Hydroxyprogesterone, Cortisol, and Cortisone During Infancy and Childhood

Pediatric Research ◽

10.1203/00006450-198001000-00010 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 39-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 112

Author(s):

Wolfgang G Sippell ◽

Helmuth G Dörr ◽

Frank Bidlingmaier ◽

Dietrich Knorr

Keyword(s):

Plasma Levels ◽

Infancy And Childhood ◽

17 Hydroxyprogesterone

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BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE LUTEINIZING HORMONE (LH) IN PLASMA: II. COMPARISON WITH IMMUNOLOGICALLY ACTIVE LH LEVELS THROUGHOUT THE HUMAN MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0840697 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 84 (4) ◽

pp. 697-712 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

P. Romaní ◽

D. M. Robertson ◽

E. Diczfalusy

Keyword(s):

Menstrual Cycle ◽

Luteinizing Hormone ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Dose Effect ◽

Confidence Limits ◽

Human Pituitary ◽

17 Hydroxyprogesterone ◽

Human Menstrual Cycle

ABSTRACT The levels of biologically active luteinizing hormone were determined by an in vitro bioassay method in plasma samples collected daily over a complete menstrual cycle from 12 menstruating women. These cycles were normal according to a number of criteria, including daily plasma levels of oestradiol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and progesterone. Immunoreactive LH was estimated in the same 12 cycles by a radioimmunoassay (RIA) procedure (HCG-RIA) using an HCG antiserum and iodinated HCG. The 2nd IRP of HMG was selected as standard although significant deviations from parallelism were found with 7 out of the 12 plasma pools studied. The use of the 1st IRP of human pituitary gonadotrophins (FSH and LH (ICSH)) for bioassay (hereafter HPG-1st IRP) as standard in this system resulted invariably in invalid assays, due to lack of parallelism. Immunoreactive LH was also measured in 8 of the 12 cycles by a RIA procedure (HLH-RIA) using a human LH antiserum and iodinated human LH of pituitary origin. Results are expressed in terms of the HPG-1st IRP. The plasma levels of biologically and immunologically active LH were qualitatively similar throughout the menstrual cycle. However, the LH levels measured by the bioassay invariably exceeded those estimated by the RIA procedures. The biological to immunological (B/I) ratio over the entire menstrual cycle (312 comparisons) was 5.5 with 95% confidence limits at 5.2 and 5.8 when the HCG-RIA system was employed. Using the HLH-RIA system (208 comparisons), the corresponding ratio was 6.4 (6.0:6.9). When regression lines were calculated using the bioassay results as the independent variable and the RIA results as the dependent variable, the 95% confidence limits of the regression lines did not include the origin. Furthermore, in keeping with the high B/I ratios, the slopes of the two regression lines and their confidence limits differed markedly from unity. It is concluded that although qualitatively similar profiles were observed between the biological and immunological activities throughout the menstrual cycle, two aspects require further attention. Firstly, the elevated B/I ratios together with the behaviour of the dose-effect lines obtained with different standards in the various RIA systems suggest that presently available reference standard preparations of pituitary and/or urinary origin are not suitable for the assay of LH in human plasma. Secondly, from the regression analyses of the biological and immunological activities it is inferred that the RIA methods detect immunological activity which is not associated with biological activity. If so, the validity of these RIA procedures for specifically measuring low levels of biologically active LH in plasma may be in question.

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