Testosterone In Saliva Research Articles

Saliva testosterone and criminal violence among women

Free testosterone concentrations were measured in the saliva of 84 female inmates and 15 female college students. Testosterone differed among inmates convicted of unprovoked violence, defensive violence, theft, drugs, and a set of other crimes. It was highest with unprovoked violence and lowest with defensive violence, where inmates had reacted violently after being physically assaulted. Testosterone was also related to number of prior charges and to Parole Board decisions about length of time to serve before being released on parole. Mean testosterone levels were similar for inmates and college students.

Androgen levels and components of aggressive behavior in men

Serum concentrations of testosterone (T ser), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and free testosterone (T sal) in saliva were determined in 117 healthy young men between the ages of 20 and 30. A battery of standardized tests and projective techniques were administered simultaneously in order to measure various components of aggression, including sexual aggressiveness. All three androgens show reliable positive correlations with self-ratings of spontaneous aggression. Dominance exhibits a positive, statistically significant correlation to T ser and to DHT. In addition, DHT is negatively related to the scale restraint of aggression. These results support previous findings about T ser and point to the importance of other androgens—especially DHT—for this aspect of endocrine-affect relationships. Interest in sexual aggression yielded no significant results for T ser and DHT (T sal shows a low positive correlation). The ratio DHT/T ser, however, correlates significantly with this component of aggression.

Direct assay for testosterone in saliva: Relationship with a direct serum free testosterone assay

A direct non-extraction radioimmunoassay for salivary testosterone is described using a modified commercial kit procedure that is in use for total serum testosterone (T). Serum free testosterone was also measured by direct radioimmunoassay. A significant correlation ( r = 0.83, p < 0.01, n = 194) was obtained between salivary and serum free testosterone in matched serum and saliva samples over a wide range of concentrations. Within- and between-batch precision for the salivary testosterone method was 11% and 18%, respectively at a concentration of 170 pmol/l. Recovery of added T was 89% ± 15% ( x ̄ ± 2 sD) and dilution of high samples showed parallelism. Salivary testosterone measured by direct radioimmunoassay offers a simple cheaper alternative to serum free testosterone measurement with the additional advantages of a stress-free non-invasive sampling procedure.

Saliva testosterone and criminal violence in young adult prison inmates.

Free testosterone was measured in the saliva of 89 male prison inmates. Inmates with higher testosterone concentrations had more often been convicted of violent crimes. The relationship was most striking at the extremes of the testosterone distribution, where 9 out of 11 inmates with the lowest testosterone concentrations had committed nonviolent crimes, and 10 out of 11 inmates with the highest testosterone concentrations had committed violent crimes. Among the inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes, those higher in testosterone received longer times to serve before parole and longer punishments for disciplinary infractions in prison. In the housing unit where peer ratings were most reliable, inmates rated as tougher by their peers were higher in testosterone.

Serum bioavailability and tissue metabolism of testosterone and estradiol in rat salivary gland.

The concentration of testosterone in saliva is probably in equilibrium with the concentration of cellular exchangeable testosterone in salivary gland, and these pools are a function of hormone transplant from the plasma compartment, and hormone metabolism in salivary gland cells. Both of these processes were examined in the present study using the carotid injection technique in normal and pilocarpine-stimulated ketamine-anesthetized rats. Both testosterone and estradiol were rapidly transported across salivary gland capillaries in vivo from the circulating albumin-bound pool. Estradiol, but not testosterone, was also rapidly transported into salivary gland from the circulating human sex hormone-binding globulin-bound pool. Hormone transport was several-fold greater than the capillary transport of [3H]bovine albumin, indicating that bound hormone was available for transport across salivary gland capillaries via an enhanced dissociation mechanism, with the plasma protein primarily residing in the plasma compartment. This result was confirmed by thaw-mount autoradiography, which showed diffuse distribution of [3H]testosterone in salivary gland, but vascular retention of [3H]bovine albumin. The concentration of exchangeable cellular testosterone in rat saliva was less than 4% of the total or plasma exchangeable testosterone in the rat. This marked discrepancy between the concentration of plasma and cellular exchangeable hormone suggested that there was rapid metabolism of androgen by salivary gland in vivo. This was confirmed by chromatographic separation of [3H] testosterone and labeled metabolites in homogenates of salivary gland. By 60 sec after injection, approximately 30% of the radioactivity in the salivary gland was in the form of androgen metabolites, which primarily comigrated with an androstenedione standard. The data indicate that albumin-bound testosterone, albumin-bound estradiol, and sex hormone-binding globulin-bound estradiol are all exchangeable in salivary gland capillaries. The low concentration of cellular exchangeable testosterone in salivary gland appears to be due to rapid tissue metabolism of this hormone. Thus, changes in androgen metabolism may alter salivary gland hormone concentrations independent of any change in the concentration of biologically active hormone in plasma.

Auswirkungen eines chlormadinonazetathaltigen Ovulationshemmers auf Androgenisierungserscheinungen sowie den Leber- und Fettstoffwechsel junger Frauen

Twenty-two patients, average age 22 years, were treated for androgenization phenomena with a combination preparation containing ethinyl estradiol and chlormadinone acetate (Neo-Eunomin) over a period lasting 12 cycles. Under this therapy acne, seborrhea, alopecia and hirsutism improved. The hepatic metabolism parameters checked before and during the study (alkalic phosphatase, SGPT, gamma-GT and total bilirubin) showed no pathologic changes and decreased significantly toward the end of the treatment period. SGOT remained uninfluenced. The effects on the lipoproteins checked were favorable, as the atherogenic index (LDL/HDL) dropped from 2.2 prior to therapy to 1.7 in the twelfth cycle of the treatment period. The HDL fraction increased significantly in the very first cycle, while the LDL fraction remained almost constant. There was a significant increase in cholesterol and triglycerides. The serum androgen count (testosterone and DHEA-S) was significantly lowered. There was a clear decrease in testosterone in saliva.

4 Serum bioavailability of sex steroid hormones

This chapter has reviewed the factors underlying the transport of testosterone and oestradiol into tissues in vivo. The following points have been emphasized. Albumin-bound testosterone is nearly freely available for transport into brain and liver and is partially available for transport into salivary gland and lymph node; testosterone transport into hair follicles has not been measured thus far. SHBG-bound testosterone is not available for transport into tissues; SHBG-bound oestradiol is available for transport into liver, salivary gland, and lymph node, bug not into brain under normal conditions. The transport of hormone from the circulating plasma protein-bound pool involves tissue-mediated enhanced dissociation of the hormone from the protein without significant exodus of the plasma protein from the microcirculation compartment. The tissue-mediated enhanced dissociation mechanism varies in activity between different organs and is a much more important factor than organ differences in capillary transit times in regulating the amplification of hormone delivery to different tissues. The concentration of free testosterone inside cells in the absence of significant cellular metabolism of the hormone is nearly ten times greater than the concentration of free testosterone in vitro, but is nearly equal to the concentration of free plus albumin-bound hormone. In the presence of active tissue metabolism of hormone, the concentration of cellular free testosterone may be much less than the albumin-bound hormone and may fortuitously approximate the concentration of free testosterone in vitro. This is the situation in salivary gland; the low concentration of testosterone in saliva appears to be due to active salivary metabolism of the hormone, since both free and albumin-bound testosterone are available for transport into salivary gland.

Saliva testosterone time-course response to hCG in adult normal men. Comparison with plasma levels

Testosterone time-course response to 5000 IU hCG was studied simultaneously in the saliva and the plasma of 13 adult normal men. Baseline levels in saliva and plasma were: 93 ± 9 pg/ml (mean ± SEM) and 4.9 ± 0.3 ng/ml respectively. After hCG the same biphasic pattern was observed in both fluids with a similar early response but the delayed peak at 72 h was relatively higher in saliva than in plasma. Thus it was suggested to collect saliva instead of plasma for the evaluation of testicular secretion of testosterone after hCG administration.

Changes in saliva testosterone after psychological stimulation in men

Saliva testosterone (ST) concentration was measured in 20 young adult and healthy men before, during and after the presentation of five different films. The films were selected to provoke erotic, sexual, aggressive, stressful and neutral stimulation, respectively. An increase in ST was found 15 min after the onset of both the erotic and the sexual stimulation, while a decline of ST levels was observed during the stressful movie showing dental surgery. No changes were found for either the neutral or the aggressive stimulant. Furthermore, no differences were found between ST levels before and after the showing of any of the films. Thus, saliva testosterone responds quickly to psychological stimulation, and may provide a practical alternative to testosterone measurements in serum under psychological test situations.

Testosterone Concentrations in Human Seminal Plasma and Saliva and its Correlation With Non-Protein-Bound and Total Testosterone Levels in Serum

A sensitive, specific and precise non-chromatographic method for the radioimmunoassay of testosterone in human seminal plasma and saliva from adult and pubertal males is described, and the values compared to total and non-protein-bound testosterone levels in serum. There was a significant correlation between salivary and serum-free levels of testosterone (r = 0.75, P less than 0.001, n = 67) whilst the correlation of serum levels of total testosterone with free as well as with salivary testosterone levels was weaker (r = 0.63 and 0.64, respectively). The salivary and serum levels of free testosterone showed better correlation with the stage of puberty than did the serum levels of total testosterone. Further evidence for a correlation between salivary and serum levels of free testosterone was obtained following oral administration of testosterone undecanoate, as this treatment increased the mean concentration of serum total testosterone after 3 h by 82%, but increased salivary and serum levels of free testosterone by only 30% and 20%, respectively. The coefficient of correlation between serum levels of total testosterone and seminal plasma testosterone was 0.73 (P less than 0.001), whilst the correlation between levels of serum-free testosterone with both salivary and seminal plasma levels of testosterone was statistically non-significant. Our observations on salivary testosterone are in accordance with the diffusion of non-protein-bound steroids into peripheral tissues, and consequently into their secretions. This model, however, does not appear to be applicable to the sex accessory glands.

Salivary and plasma bound and “free” testosterone in men and women

Paired samples of blood and saliva from 37 men and nine women throughout the menstrual cycle were measured for testosterone by radioimmunoassay and free testosterone by equilibrium dialysis. There was a highly significant correlation between plasma and salivary testosterone, with a correlation coefficient r = 0.71 (p = <0.001). In men, free testosterone constituted 78% of salivary testosterone but only 4% of plasma testosterone; mean ± SE salivary testosterone was 193.7 ± 6.7 pg/ml compared to plasma testosterone of 5,140 ± 298.0 pg/ml. Salivary testosterone decreased significantly from a morning (0800 hours) level of 208 ± 7.5 to an evening (1800 hours) level of 174 ± 8.4 pg/ml (p = < 0.001) (n = 23). Similarly, plasma testosterone was significantly higher in the morning (6,584 ± 472 pg/ml) than in the evening (5,571 ± 357 pg/ml) (p = <0.005) (n = 25). Free testosterone in saliva and plasma also showed significantly higher morning than evening levels. The coefficients of variability for hourly changes (0900 to 1800 hours) in salivary testosterone and free testosterone were 13.6% and 16.7% compared to 12.7% and 20.9% for plasma testosterone and free testosterone, respectively. In women, salivary testosterone during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle was 108.3 ± 5.8 pg/ml, and it increased significantly to 130.5 ± 6.0 pg/ml in the secretory phase (p = < 0.02). Our findings indicate that measurements of salivary testosterone reflect plasma testosterone and may be a useful noninvasive method of assessing levels of testosterone.

Effect of ketoconazole and other imidazole fungicides on testosterone biosynthesis.

A single oral dose of 400 mg ketoconazole, a broad-spectrum antifungal drug, administered orally to 5 young men induced a drop in serum and saliva testosterone into the range of hypogonadism, while LH, FSH and prolactin levels remained unchanged. In vitro studies with mouse Leydig cells demonstrated a direct reversible inhibition of testosterone biosynthesis by ketoconazole. Comparative studies with chemically related compounds showed similar effects on testosterone production of mouse Leydig cells by isoconazole, miconazole, econazole and clotrimazole, while metronidazole and levamisole were without influence on testosterone biosynthesis. Since all tested imidazoles which suppress testosterone production have as a common feature a phenylated side chain of the imidazole molecule, this indicates a structure/activity relationship for the effects observed.

Relationship of high density lipoprotein cholesterol with total and free testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin

A cross-sectional study was performed to see if the previously described association between high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and plasma total testosterone concentration reflected a relationship with free testosterone or with sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). In 295 employed middle-aged men, measurements were made of total testosterone and SHBG in serum and of testosterone in saliva, and also of plasma total and HDL cholesterol, plasma triglycerides and other factors which might influence HDL cholesterol levels such as body mass index, alcohol and smoking habits and thyroid hormone levels. In a multiple regression analysis using the GLIM package programme total testosterone concentrations had a persistent positive association with HDL cholesterol (t = 3.5, P less than 0.001) - this association was independent of SHBG (which had a negative association with HDL: t = -1.8, P less than 0.07. The association of HDL cholesterol with testosterone was independent of and stronger than the association of HDL cholesterol with body mass index, alcohol intake and cigarette smoking. Salivary testosterone (a measure of the circulating free hormone) also had a positive independent association with HDL cholesterol. The relationship between HDL cholesterol and testosterone thus appears to reflect an association with circulating hormone levels rather than with the hormone binding globulin.

Sex hormone-binding globulin and saliva testosterone levels in men with androgenetic alopecia.

Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), plasma testosterone and saliva testosterone were measured in sixty-four men with androgenetic alopecia and in forty males within the same age range without alopecia. There was a significant reduction in SHBG levels in bald men, compared with controls. Plasma testosterone levels were not raised in bald men, but their salivary testosterone levels were significantly higher than in controls.

Saliva and serum testosterone following oral testosterone undecanoate administration in normal and hypogonadal men.

Since saliva testosterone reflects the testosterone fraction available to target tissues the therapeutic effectiveness of orally administered testosterone undecanoate was assessed by measuring testosterone in serum and saliva. Matched saliva and serum samples were obtained from 12 normal men and 8 hypogonadal men before and at hourly intervals after the oral administration of 120 mg testosterone undecanoate. The test was repeated in 3 men after they had taken 40 mg testosterone undecanoate twice daily for 4 to 5 weeks. Following testosterone undecanoate administration serum and saliva testosterone always showed parallel increases. However, the absorption curves showed a high interindividual variability in the time when maximum concentrations were reached, as well as in the maximum levels themselves. The increases in serum and saliva testosterone were similar in normal and hypogonadal men. In normal men basal levels were reached 4 h after the maximum had occurred, while in hypogonadal men testosterone levels were not different from basal levels 2 h after the maximum. The study shows that testosterone undecanoate is well absorbed from the gut and releases significantly elevated amounts of testosterone which is available to target tissues. As the absorption pattern was always parallel in both fluids, hydrolysis of the circulating testosterone ester by the tissue itself seems to effect no additional increase of testosterone in the tissue.

High sensitivity analyses of steroids using gas chromatography-negative chemical ionisation mass spectrometry

The negative chemical ionisation (isobutane reagent) mass spectra of testosterone pentafluorobenzyloxime, trimethylsilyl ether and oestradiol-17β bis heptafluorobutyrate include abundant high mass ions suitable for selected ion monitoring during gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Detection limits are in the low picogram range. The technique has been used to confirm the presence of testosterone in saliva. The combination of immunoadsorption extraction and GC-negative chemical ionisation MS provides a sensitive and selective procedure for determination of oestradiol-17β in plasma.

SALIVARY TESTOSTERONE: RELATIONSHIP TO UNBOUND PLASMA TESTOSTERONE IN NORMAL AND HYPERANDROGENIC WOMEN

A sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to measure salivary testosterone levels in normal women, in patients with polycystic ovaries (PCO), and in women with hirsutism. There was a highly significant correlation (r = 0.79, P less than 0.001) between the concentration of testosterone in saliva [12.3 +/- 7.8 (SD) pg/ml] and the concentration of unbound testosterone in plasma (5.2 +/- 3.1 pg/ml) in matched samples collected from 56 women including normals, patients with clinical signs of hyperandrogenism, and women treated with a combination of cyproterone acetate (CA) and ethinyl oestradiol (EE). The unbound plasma testosterone was measured in the dialysate directly using a sensitive RIA. Salivary and plasma testosterone levels in patients with PCO (20.6 +/- 8.5 and 626 +/- 187 pg/ml respectively, n = 14) and in those with hirsutism (13.9 +/- 5.6 and 421 +/- 170 pg/ml, n = 30) were significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than levels in normal women (7.7 +/- 2.6 and 196 +/- 68 pg/ml, n = 36). Treatment for 3 months with CA and EE resulted in a decrease (mean 68%) in salivary testosterone levels in all patients studied (n = 15), but the suppression of plasma testosterone (mean 34%) was not observed in all cases. It is concluded that measurement of salivary testosterone gives a useful indication of levels of biologically available androgen in hyperandrogenic women, before and during CA/EE therapy.

Assessment of testicular function by the radioimmunoassay of testosterone in saliva.

A sensitive RIA (500 fg/tube) has been developed for assay of testosterone in male saliva and extensively validated. In normal male saliva samples, morning concentrations (368 +/- 167 pmol/l) were significantly higher than evening samples (212 +/- 132 pmol/l). The circadian rhythm was confirmed by COSINOR analysis. Levels of testosterone in saliva, in response to HCG stimulation, accurately reflected the increase observed in matched plasma samples. Synacthen administration, although increasing circulating cortisol levels, caused no significant change in plasma and salivary testosterone concentrations. Prostatic cancer patients on diethylstilboestrol therapy had low salivary (47--122 pmol/l) and plasma (1.0--2.8 nmol/l) testosterone concentrations. Correct assessment of testicular function following stimulation and treatment regimens requires multiple sampling. Since saliva samples are easily collected by non-invasive techniques they represent an attractive alternative to plasma for evaluation of androgenicity.

Analysis of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone in saliva by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Testosterone and 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one (dehydroepiandrosterone) have been identified in human parotid fluid and saliva by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/ selected ion monitoring analyses of the t-butyldimethylsilyl ether and methyl oxime, t-butyldimethylsilyl ether derivatives. High specificity of analysis has been achieved by the use of high mass spectrometric resolution or by the monitoring of metastable peaks. Quantitative analyses indicate concentrations of both unconjugated testosterone and unconjugated dehydroepiandrosterone in the range 200–800 pmol/l in the saliva and parotid fluid of the normal males examined. These represent 1.5–7.5% of the concentrations of the steroids in blood plasma taken from the same subjects.

Radioimmunoassay for “free” testosterone in human saliva

A sensitive, specific and accurate direct radioimmunoassay of testosterone in human saliva, without chromatography, is described. Ether extraction was employed before immunoassay which was performed by using rapid double antibody method. The assay had a sensitivity of 8 pg/tube and blanks were negligible; the intra- and inter-assay coefficient of variation were 4.8 and 9.7%, respectively. The mean recovery of labelled [1,2- 3H]-testosterone, obtained from 90 samples, was 85.6 ± 11.3%. Good correlation was found between the results determined on 26 pairs of samples with and without the use of Chromatographic partition ( r = 0.9559). Results in men and women under normal and pathological conditions are reported.