Plasma Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Research Articles

Effects of Labor on Plasma Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate and Cortisol

Maternal and cord plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS) and cortisol were measured before cesarean section, during syntocinon induced labor, and at delivery after spontaneous or induced labor. The mean maternal plasma DHAS was significantly lower in cesarean sections than in spontaneous labor, and raised significantly by induction of labor. The cord plasma DHAS was not significantly different in cesarean, spontaneous or induced labor. In cesarean section, the cord plasma DHAS was higher than maternal DHAS, but they were not different during spontaneous or induced labor. Maternal plasma cortisol increases significantly during spontaneous or induced labor. During prelabor, the increase in maternal DHAS without a change in plasma cortisol suggest, at least, a change in the metabolism of maternal DHAS. During labor, the increase in plasma concentrations of both compounds indicates a change in the metabolism of cortisol and DHAS.

Determination of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in human plasma by gas-liquid chromatography

A revised method for the determination of DHEA sulfate in human plasma is described. After extraction with methylene chloride as the pyridinium salt, DHEA sulfate is purified by thin-layer chromatography and hydrolyzed by solvolysis technique. The liberated DHEA is purified by the second thin-layer chromatography and determined by gas-liquid chromatography as the trimethylsilyl ether derivative. This method proved to be practical for processing large numbers of clinical samples and gave consistently reliable results.

A VIRILIZING ADRENAL TUMOR WITH BORDERLINE ELEVATION OF URINARY 17-KETOSTEROIDS

In vivo and in vitro studies on a 6-year-old boy with a virilizing adrenal adenoma are reported. Of particular interest was the modest elevation of urinary 17-ketosteroids. The awareness of this observation is emphasized. The main biochemical findings were: elevated dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHA-S), normal testosterone and androstenedione levels in plasma, and increased urinary excretion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), 16-hydroxy-DHA, androstenediol and androstenetriol, which were isolated from the sulfate fraction. In vitro incubation of tumor tissue demonstrated its capacity to sulfurylate pregnenolone. It is postulated that DHA-S is the principal precursor of the urinary metabolites isolated, and that its metabolism in this case (possibly a function of age) led to a relatively small contribution of androsterone and etiocholanolone, in contrast to other steroids measured, particularly 16-hydroxy-DHA.

PLASMA-LEVELS OF THE SULPHATE ESTERS OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE AND ANDROSTERONE IN KENYAN MEN AND THEIR RELATION TO CANCER OF THE NASOPHARYNX

Plasma dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate and androsterone-sulphate levels were determined in 40 Kenyan men. These levels were not correlated with age and were lower than those found in British men. Kenyans with nasopharyngeal cancers had significantly lower levels of plasma-dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate than control Kenyans, although androsterone-sulphate levels were similar.

Dehydroepinadrosterone sulfate: a secretory product of the boar testis.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone and Δ4- androstenedione were isolated and characterized from the testes and the spermatic vein plasma of a boar treated 3 days by human chorionic gonadotropin. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone were the most abundant compounds. In an untreated boar, there were more dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone (tentatively identified) in spermatic vein plasma than in spermatic arterial plasma and peripheral venous plasma. (Endocrinology 81: 34, 1967)

13 Plasma 17-Ketosteroid Levels During Adolescence

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)

Extraction and purification of steroid conjugates with ion exchange resins: measurement of androsterone sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in plasma.

A method is presented for the extraction and purification of steroid conjugates from aqueous media using ion exchange resins. Diluted serum or plasma is adjusted to pH 3 and passed through an IR-4B column in acetate form. The extracted conjugates are eluted from the column with ammoniacal methanol. Excess ammonia is removed under vacuum and the extract is then passed through an IR-120 column in H+ form. The eluate from this column will contain purified steroid conjugates, methanol, traces of volatile acids and water. The acids, methanol and water are removed under vacuum in less than 10 min, leaving a clean, dry extract readily handled by paper chromatography. Recovery of steroid monosulfates through both columns is about 87%. This method has been applied to the determination of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and androsterone sulfate in human peripheral plasma.

Neutral C 19-steroids amd steroid sulfates im human pregnancy I. Identification op dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in fetal blood and quantification of this hormone in cord arterial, cord venous and maternal peripheral blood in normal pregnancies at term

Identification of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DS), in umbilical cord blood is presented. Utilizing a modification of the method of McKenna, DS was measured as the sulfate in maternal vein and umbilical artery and vein of 20 normal cases. Reliability criteria of the method are given. Mean concentration and standard deviation of plasma DS were found to be 100.00 ± 52.0 μg % for maternal peripheral vein, 162.0 ± 62.5 μg % for cord artery, and 130.5 ± 59.5 μg % for cord vein. The values were corrected for losses. An arteriovenous difference of 31.5 μg % in the cord plasma suggests an uptake of DS by the placenta and its probable production in the fetus. Calculating the values as μg DS % whole blood on the basis of the individual hematocrits, there was no significant difference between maternal venous blood and cord arterial or venous blood.