The androgens dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione and testosterone are routinely assessed in women, and circulating levels of these androgens reflect their production. These androgens are measured in most laboratories using various immuno-analytical methods. Recently, however, androgen assays have begun to be performed using gas or liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. To better understand the difficulties and issues of androgen laboratory diagnostics, it is important to assess each of the methods used, how and why they were introduced into practice, and their advantages, limits, historic milestones and current status. It is also necessary to understand how reference ranges are determined and specifics arising from the physiology of individual androgens. Here we present a summary and discussion of these issues., M. Dušková, L. Kolátorová, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Smoking during pregnancy presents health risks for both the mother and her child. In this study we followed changes in the production of steroid hormones in pregnant smokers. We focused on changes in steroidogenesis in the blood of mothers in their 37th week of pregnancy and in mixed cord blood from their newborns. The study included 88 healthy women with physiological pregnancies (17 active smokers and 71 nonsmokers). We separately analyzed hormonal changes associated with smoking according to the sex of newborns. In women with male fetuses, we found higher levels of serum cortisone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 7α-OH-DHEA, 17-OH pregnenolone, testosterone, and androstenedione in smokers at the 37th week compared to non-smokers. In women with female fetuses, we found lower serum levels of 7β-OH-DHEA and higher androstenedione in smokers at the 37th week. We found significantly higher levels of testosterone in newborn males of smokers and higher levels of 7α-OH-DHEA in female newborns of smokers. Smoking during pregnancy induces changes in the production of steroids in both the mother and her child. These changes are different for different fetal sexes, with more pronounced changes in mothers carrying male newborns as well as in the newborn males themselves., K. Adamcová, L. Kolátorová, T. Chlupáčová, M. Šimková, H. Jandíková, A. Pařízek, L. Stárka, M. Dušková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of this study was to look for changes in the daily profile of steroid hormones after standardized food intake. Eight young women not taking contraceptives were followed from 5:30 a.m. till 9:30 p.m. before and 1 and 2 h after eating breakfast, snack, lunch, the second snack and dinner. The differences in steroid levels before and after meals were evaluated. As expected, glucose, C-peptide and ghrelin levels changed postprandially. The steroid hormones cortisol, progesterone, pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone showed a decrease after main meals, whereas testosterone and dihydrotestosterone showed no significant dependence on food intake. Estrogen levels did not exhibit a significant nycthemeral rhythm, but estradiol decreased after main meals. In our study the known nycthemeral rhythm of LH, FSH, cortisol, progesterone and pregnenolone after food intake were confirmed, but significant changes after meals were also observed in the levels of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, estradiol and SHBG., B. Rácz, M. Dušková, K. Vondra, M. Šrámková, M. Hill, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The general population is potentially exposed to many chemicals that can affect the endocrine system. These substances are called endocrine disruptors (EDs), and among them bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most widely used and well studied. Nonetheless, there are still no data on simultaneous measurements of various EDs along with steroids directly in the seminal fluid, where deleterious effects of EDs on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis are assumed. We determined levels of BPA and 3 estrogens using LC-MS/MS in the plasma and seminal plasma of 174 men with different degrees of infertility. These men were divided according their spermiogram values into 4 groups: (1) healthy men, and (2) slightly, (3) moderate, and (4) severely infertile men. Estradiol levels differed across the groups and body fluids. Slightly infertile men have significantly higher BPA plasma and seminal plasma levels in comparison with healthy men (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Furthermore, seminal BPA, but not plasma BPA, was negatively associated with sperm concentration and total sperm count (-0.27; p<0.001 and -0.24; p<0.01, respectively). These findings point to the importance of seminal plasma in BPA research. Overall, a disruption of estrogen metabolism was observed together with a weak but significant impact of BPA on sperm count and concentration., J. Vitku, L. Sosvorova, T. Chlupacova, R. Hampl, M. Hill, V. Sobotka, J. Heracek, M. Bicikova, L. Starka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
After menopause, when estrogen levels decrease, there is room for the activity of anthropogenic substances with estrogenic properties - endocrine disruptors (EDs) - that can interfere with bone remodeling and changes in calcium-phosphate metabolism. Selected unconjugated EDs of the bisphenol group - BPA, BPS, BPF, BPAF, and the paraben family - methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, and benzyl-parabens - were measured by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in the plasma of 24 postmenopausal women. Parameters of calcium-phosphate metabolism and bone mineral density were assessed. Osteoporosis was classified in 14 women, and 10 women were put into the control group. The impact of EDs on calcium-phosphate metabolism was evaluated by multiple linear regressions. In women with osteoporosis, concentrations of BPA ranged from the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) - 104 pg/ml and methyl paraben (MP) from LLOQ - 1120 pg/ml. The alternative bisphenols BPS, BPF and BPAF were all under the LLOQ. Except for MP, no further parabens were detected in the majority of samples. The multiple linear regression model found a positive association of BPA (β=0.07, p<0.05) on calcium (Ca) concentrations. Furthermore, MP (β=-0.232, p<0.05) was negatively associated with C-terminal telopeptide. These preliminary results suggest that these EDs may have effects on calcium-phosphate metabolism., J. Vitku, L. Kolatorova, L. Franekova, J. Blahos, M. Simkova, M. Duskova, T. Skodova, L. Starka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Here we analyzed associations between muscles mass, total bone mineral content (BMC), lumbar spine bone density (BMD L1-L4) and serum or urine hormones in healthy peripubertal girls. Total BMC and areal BMD L1-L4, muscle mass and fat were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Muscle force (N) was estimated by a dynamometer. Circulating estradiol, folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), 25-hydroxy vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), leptin, osteocalcin, bone isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (bALP) and total calcium and phosphorus were quantified as the nocturnal melatonin and serotonin urinary excretion. Partial correlations adjusted for height, Tanner score and physical activity confirmed positive relationships between BMC or BMD L1-L4 (Z-score) and lean mass or fat. Furthermore, positive relationship was observed between BMC or BMD L1-L4 (Z-score) and serum leptin. After adjustment for Tanner score and physical activity, positive associations were observed between lean mass and IGF-1, leptin levels or muscle force. We proved positive relationships between bone mass and serum leptin in peripubertal girls., V. Cirmanova, I. Zofkova, P. Kasalicky, V. Lanska, M. Bayer, L. Starka, R. Kanceva., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological diseases. This neurodegenerative autoimmune disease manifests as inflammatory and demyelinating impairment of the central nervous system (CNS). Although some studies demonstrated associations between altered steroidogenesis and pathophysiology of MS as well as the importance of steroids in the pathophysiology of MS, the knowledge concerning the steroid metabolome in female patients is limited. Hence, 51 steroids and steroid polar conjugates were measured in the serum of 12 women with MS, untreated with steroids and 6 agecorresponding female controls with the use of gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The data were processed using age adjusted ANCOVA, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures (OPLS). Our data show higher levels of circulating C21 steroids including steroid modulators of ionotropic type A γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA A) receptors and glutamate receptors. Furthermore, the levels of GABAergic androsterone and 5-androsten-3β,7α,17β-triol were also higher in the female MS patients. In conclusion, the data demonstrate higher levels of circulating C21 steroids and their polar conjugates and some bioactive C19 steroids in women with MS, which may influence neuronal activity and affect the balance between neuroprotection and excitotoxicity., R. Kanceva, L. Stárka, L. Kancheva, M. Hill, M. Veliková, E. Havrdová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The cyclical effects of hormones during the menstrual cycle (MC) are not just responsible for driving ovulation, but also have significant influence on dietary intake and appetite, as well as psychological and behavioral changes. The aim of our study was to describe changes and relationships between the MC and selected steroids, adipokines and food intake-related hormones. Twenty-seven women with regular menstrual cycles were included in the study, and their hormonal spectrum was measured in regular intervals starting from the first day of their cycle. Classical changes in gonadotropins, estrogens and progesterone during the menstrual cycle are accompanied by less striking but significant changes in 17-hydroxyprogesterone and testosterone. No significant changes show dehydroepiandrosterone and its 7-oxygenated metabolites. Adipokines show a tendency to increase during ovulation, while ghrelin and resistin decrease. There is also a remarkable association of sex hormone-binding globulin on the day of the cycle. Our results demonstrate that changes to adipokines during the menstrual cycle are not substantial, but nonetheless can play a role in the changes of food intake described in the literature. Precise descriptions of physiological changes in healthy women are important in helping us understand the significance of the changes accompanying various pathological states., M. Šrámková, M. Dušková, J. Vítků, J. Včelák, P. Matucha, O. Bradnová, J. de Cordeiro, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Obesity is linked to a wide range of serious illnesses. In addition to the important impact on the health of the individual, obesity also has a substantial impact on the economy. Disruption of physiological day-night cycles could contribute to the increased incidence of obesity. According to the American National Sleep Federation, the percentage of the people who reported a sleep duration of six hours or less increased from 12 to 37 % over ten years. Insufficient sleep leads not only to an increase of the total calorie intake but changes the meal preference in favor of palatable foods and meals with high carbohydrate content. A decrease of leptin and increase of ghrelin levels caused by sleep deficiency can also play a role. In addition to the higher caloric intake, the timing of food consumption should be taken into account. The same meal eaten during the night versus the day is associated with increased postprandial glucose and triglyceride levels. The gut microbiome has also been recently understood as an endocrine system, with links between the gut microbiome and circadian rhythm changes possibly influencing increased obesity., B. Rácz, M. Dušková, L. Stárka, V. Hainer, M. Kunešová., and Obsahuje bibliografii