13 Plasma 17-Ketosteroid Levels During Adolescence

Abstract

To study adrenal maturation at adolescence, pooled blood was collected from prepubertal males, age 6–9 years, and from pubertal boys, age 12–14 years. Plasma steroid sulfates were extracted in the form of methyl green salts, which were solvolyzed and then successively subjected to purification by means of the Girard T-reagent, digitonin, thin-layer chromatography, and gas-liquid chromatography (free steroid, acetate, trimethylsilyl ether) on the phases SE-52 and QF-1. In the 6–9 year-old pool the level of androsterone sulfate (AS), corrected for 80 % recovery, was 8.6 μg%; and of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS), corrected for 65% recovery, 13.5 μg%. In the 12–14 year-old male pool the level of AS was 56.7 μg % and of DHAS 80.3 μg %. In adult males, studied for comparison, plasma levels of AS were 40–53 μg % and of DHAS 89–209 μg%. No etiocholanolone sulfate or free 17-ketosteroid was detected.The dramatic rise of plasma DHAS and AS during adolescence appears to occur simultaneously wih beginning testicular maturation. Since ACTH secretion is not known to change at the time of adolescence, these observations suggest that beginning adrenal production of DHAS at this age is not directly related to ACTH stimulation, but rather that it is promoted by some other trophic factor. (SPR)