Possible Role Of Androgens Research Articles

The role of androgens in the late-premenopausal woman with adenomatous hyperplasia of the endometrium

To examine the possible role of androgens in hyperplasia of the endometrium, the concentrations of testosterone (T), androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), estradiol (E 2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), were measured in peripheral venous serum obtained from 42 premenopausal women with adenomatous hyperplasia of the endometrium (group A) and from 18 women without hyperplasia (group B). In patients with hyperplasia of the endometrium, significantly higher peripheral venous concentrations were found for all androgens (P < 0.05) and estradiol (P < 0.001) than in control patients. In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean serum values of SHBG as well as in gonadotropins among the population of compared groups. We conclude that apart from the increased estrogenic activity in patients with adenomatous hyperplasia of the endometrium, androgens may play a significant role.

5 alpha-reductase, aromatase, and androgen receptor levels in the monkey brain during fetal development.

To elucidate the metabolic fate and possible role of androgens and their derivatives during primate fetal development, aromatase (AROM), 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha R), and androgen receptor (AR; cytosolic) levels were assessed in the brain, heart (HRT), lung (LNG), and skeletal muscle (MUS) of fetal rhesus monkeys. Analyses were performed on tissues taken on days 100 and 160 postconception. Five male and four or five female fetuses were examined at each stage. Brain tissues analyzed included medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), amygdala (AMG), cerebellum (CB), corpus callosum (CAL; splenial region), cerebral cortex (CTX), and cingulate cortex (CNG). In the following, enzyme activities are reported as picomoles per mg protein/h, while receptor levels are femtomoles per mg protein. 5 alpha R activity was measurable in all tissues. Analysis of variance revealed significant tissue differences [P less than 0.001, combined stages and sexes; CAL (2.05) greater than MBH (1.08) greater than AMG (0.63) greater than CB (0.4)-CNG-CTX-LNG-HRT-MUS (0.02); -indicates not significantly different]. A significant age x tissue interaction (P less than 0.001) was noted which could be explained by higher MBH and CAL levels in older vs. younger fetuses and higher AMG levels in younger vs. older fetuses. There was also a significant sex x tissue interaction which was attributed to higher female values in the MBH and CAL. AROM activity was detected in all tissues. Levels varied significantly among tissues [P less than 0.001, combined stages and sexes; MBH (0.80)-AMG (0.76) greater than CAL (0.4)-CNG-CB-CTX-LNG-HRT-MUS (0.07)]. Significant age (P less than 0.001) and age x tissue (P less than 0.001) effects were noted, which were due to higher MBH and AMG levels in younger vs. older fetuses. No sex difference in AROM levels was evident in any tissue. AR was measurable in all cases. Although stage and sex differences were not significant, tissue levels varied significantly [P less than 0.001; LNG (2.8)-MUS (2.6)-MBH (2.2) greater than HRT-AMG-CB-CTX-CAL-CNG (0.9)]. These findings indicate that neural and nonneural fetal primate tissues have the potential for transforming androgens to products that could have greater or lesser biological activity. AR were also noted through which dihydrotestosterone or testosterone could effect a genomic response. Since stage, tissue, and sex differences were evident in neural tissues, metabolic and receptor activities may be important for the normal differentiation of sexually dimorphic behavioral systems in monkeys as well as for potential teratogenic changes under abnormal metabolic or physiological conditions.

Effect of Castration and Androgen Treatment on Sex‐Linked Reactivity of Rat Aorta to a Thromboxane‐Mimic

In order to examine the possible role of androgens in the isotonic response of the isolated rat aorta, a highly active mimic of thromboxane was employed. The maximum response to this TXA2‐mimic U46619 was greater by 24 ± 3% (P &lt;0.01) in the male, as compared with the female, In addition, the sensitivity of the male vessel was 35 ± 4% greater than that of the female vessel (P &lt; 0.01). Orchiectomy decreased the maximum contractile response to the TXA2‐mimic; however, ovariectomy increased both the maximum response and sensitivity. Testosterone pretreatment (1 mg/kg intramuscularly, biweekly for two weeks) restored the response of the castrated male but did not further increase the response of the ovariectomized female. The maximum response and sensitivity of the aorta of the intact female pretreated with testosterone was increased (P &lt;0.01). These results suggest that the response of rat aorta to a TXA2‐mimic may be regulated not only by androgens, but also by ovarian hormones.

Steroidogenesis in the gonads of rainbow trout fry (Salmo gairdneri) before and after the onset of gonadal sex differentiation

Gonadal homogenates of rainbow trout from D(ay) 60, D100 and D200 after fertilization have been incubated in vitro in the presence of dehydroepiandrosterone-3H to demonstrate 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) and delta 5,4-isomerase activity, of pregnenolone-3H to assess the synthesis of "progestins" and of androstenedione-3H to determine oestrogen synthesis in the ovaries and the formation of androgens in the testes. Histologically indifferent gonads from D50 contained 3 beta-HSD, delta 5,4-isomerase and 17 alpha-hydroxylase, indicating a capacity to synthesize progestins. Ovaries from D100 possessed the same enzymes as D50 gonads; those from D200 had, in addition, 17 beta-HSD and aromatase, indicative of oestrogen synthesis. Unlike the D50 gonads, the D100 testes also contained 17 alpha, 20-desmolase and 11 beta-hydroxylase, showing a capacity to synthesize androgens. 17 beta-HSD was only demonstrated in D200 testes. The possible role of androgens and progestins in the regulation of gonadal sex differentiation in rainbow trout has been discussed. Ultrastructural and enzymecytochemical investigations have demonstrated stroma (Leydig) cells as sources of steroidogenesis in rainbow trout testis from D100 onwards. The appearance of big mitochondria with many tubular cristae in those cells synchronized with the appearance of 11 beta-hydroxylase activity. Obvious steroidogenic sites could not be demonstrated in younger gonads and developing ovaries.

The effects of androgens on the β-glands of the tokay (Gekko gecko): Modification of an hypothesis.

Study of the posterior abdominal epidermis in hypophysectomized/thyroidectomized male and female tokays following surgery, and subsequent androgen therapy, indicates that, contrary to a previous model, all aspects of β-gland differentiation are under direct androgenic control. On the other hand, another epidermal specialization, the digital foot-pad, shows a pattern of histogenesis directly comparable to that of β-glands, but is unaffected by androgens. These data are discussed with respect to the evolution of glandular epidermal specializations in gekkonid lizards and the possible role of androgens in modifying the control of cell differentiation in lizard epidermis.

In vitro progesteronematabolism by selected brain areas, pituitary gland and tests of the adult male cat.

Abstract This study was conducted to define the pattern of in vitro metabolism of [3H]-progesterone by the adult cat reproductive system involving the following structures: selected brain areas implicated in reproductive physiology, anterior pituitary, and the testes. Tissues were incubated with radiolabeled progesterone, and the formed metabolites were separated, isolated, and purified by sequential paper chromatography, and further identified by derivative formation and isotopic dilution and recrystallization. All tissues used in this experiment converted progesterone to androgens, indicating the presence of 17 α-hydroxylase, 17, 20-desmolase and 17 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; some tissues also demonstrated a capacity to produce estrogens, showing the presence of the aromatizing enzyme system; yet, no 5α-reduced androgens were detected in any of the incubations. These transformations in neuroendocrine tissues may provide further evidence concerning the possible role of androgens and estrogens in central reproductive physiology and sexual behavior.

THE ACTION OF TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE ON EXPERIMENTAL MENSTRUATION IN THE MONKEY1

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS have shown that when masculinizing changes begin in girls, as in virilism, menstruation becomes irregular, scanty or stops for long periods. This has led to investigations of the possible rOle of androgens in the menstrual cycle. It is possible experimentally to inhibit the rhythmic occurrence of menstruation by administration of androgen in the intact monkey (1, 2) and in women (3, 4). The uterine bleeding which follows the cessation of adequate estrogenic stimulation in monkeys (5) has likewise been inhibited by the subsequent administration of androgen (2). Relatively high doses have been used to accomplish this androgenic inhibition. Testosterone has several biological reactions fairly similar to those of progesterone. One of these is the inhibition of experimental menstrual bleeding in spayed monkeys subject to estrogen′deprivation (6). In spite of the observation that these two hormones exert a different histological reaction on the endometrium (7), the actual mechanism whereby...