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
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
The ability to predict the success or failure of smoking cessation efforts will be useful for clinical practice. Stress response is regulated by two primary neuroendocrine systems. Salivary cortisol has been used as a marker for the hypothalamuspituitary- adrenocortical axis and salivary α-amylase as a marker for the sympathetic adrenomedullary system. We studied 62 chronic smokers (34 women and 28 men with an average age of 45.2±12.9 years). The levels of salivary cortisol and salivary α-amylase were measured during the period of active smoking, and 6 weeks and 24 weeks after quitting. We analyzed the men separately from the women. The men who were unsuccessful in cessation showed significantly higher levels of salivary α-amylase over the entire course of the cessation attempt. Before stopping smoking, salivary cortisol levels were higher among the men who were unsuccessful in smoking cessation. After quitting, there were no differences between this group and the men who were successful in cessation. In women we found no differences between groups of successful and unsuccessful ex-smokers during cessation. In conclusions, increased levels of salivary α-amylase before and during smoking cessation may predict failure to quit in men. On the other hand, no advantage was found in predicting the failure to quit in women. The results of our study support previously described gender differences in smoking cessation., M. Dušková ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
a1_Progesterone and estradiol are the foremost steroid hormones in human pregnancy. However, the origin of maternal progesterone has still not been satisfactorily explained, despite the generally accepted opinion that maternal LDL-cholesterol is a single substrate for placental synthesis of maternal progesterone. The question remains why the levels of progesterone are substantially higher in fetal as opposed to maternal blood. Hence, the role of the fetal zone of fetal adrenal (FZFA) in the synthesis of progesterone precursors was addressed. The FZFA may be directly regulated by placental CRH inducing an excessive production of sulfated 3β-hydroxy-5-ene steroids such as sulfates of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) and pregnenolone (PregS). Due to their excellent solubility in plasma these conjugates are easily transported in excessive amounts to the placenta for further conversion to the sex hormones. While the significance of C19 3β-hydroxy-5-ene steroid sulfates originating in FZFA for placental estrogen formation is mostly recognized, the question “Which maternal and/or fetal functions may be served by excessive production of PregS in the FZFA?“ - still remains open. Our hypothesis is that, besides the necessity to synthesize de novo all the maternal progesterone from cholesterol, it may be more convenient to utilize the fetal PregS. The activities of sulfatase and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) are substantially higher than the activity of cytochrome P450scc, which is rate-limiting for the placental progesterone synthesis from LDL-cholesterol. However, as in the case of progesterone synthesis from maternal LDL-cholesterol, the relative independence of progesterone levels on FZFA activity may be a consequence of substrate saturation of enzymes converting PregS to progesterone., a2_Some of the literature along with our current data (showing no correlation between fetal and maternal progesterone but significant partial correlations between fetal and maternal 20α-dihydroprogesterone (Prog20α) and between Prog20α and progesterone within the maternal blood) indicate that the localization of individual types of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is responsible for a higher proportion of estrone and progesterone in the fetus, but also a higher proportion of estradiol and Prog20α in maternal blood. Type 2 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17HSD2), which oxidizes estradiol to estrone and Prog20α to progesterone, is highly expressed in placental endothelial cells lining the fetal compartment. Alternatively, syncytium, which is directly in contact with maternal blood, produces high amounts of estradiol and Prog20α due to the effects of type 1, 5 and 7 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17HSD1, 17HSD5, and 17HSD7, respectively). The proposed mechanisms may serve the following functions: 1) providing substances which may influence the placental production of progesterone and synthesis of neuroprotective steroids in the fetus; and 2) creating hormonal milieu enabling control of the onset of labor., M. Hill ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
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
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a frequent liver disorder, mostly occurring in the third trimester. ICP is not harmful to the mothers but threatens the fetus. The authors evaluated steroid alterations in maternal and mixed umbilical blood to elucidate their role in the ICP development. Ten women with ICP were included in the study. Steroids in the maternal blood were measured by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) (n=58) and RIA (n=5) at the diagnosis of ICP, labor, day 5 postpartum, week 3 postpartum and week 6 postpartum. The results were evaluated by ANOVA consisting of the subject factor, between subject factors ICP, gestational age at the diagnosis of ICP and gestational age at labor, withinsubject factor Stage and ICP × Stage interaction. The 17 controls were firstly examined in the week 36 of gestation. ICP patients showed reduced CYP17A1 activity in the C17,20 lyase step thus shifting the balance between the toxic conjugated pregnanediols and harmless sulfated 5α/β-reduced-17-oxo C19 steroids. Hence, more toxic metabolites originating in maternal liver from the placental pregnanes may penetrate backward to the fetal circulation. As these alterations persist in puerperium, the circulating steroids could be potentially used for predicting the predisposition to ICP even before next pregnancy., P. Šimják, M. Hill, A. Pařízek, L. Vítek, M. Velíková, M. Dušková, R. Kancheva, J. Bulant, M. Koucký, Z. Kokrdová, K. Adamcová, A. Černý, Z. Hájek, L. Stárka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Melatonin plays a key role in the circadian timing system. At present, many other functions of melatonin are known. Question remains whether changes in endogenous melatonin may be associated with food intake. Hence, the levels of melatonin, C-peptide and glucose were followed during a daily regimen (16 hours) including standardized food intake using commercial kits. The diurnal profiles of the hormones and serum glucose were evaluated using ANOVA with Period and Subject as independent factors. Pearson’s correlations and using a multiple stepwise backward regression model consisting of the time factor as a polynomial, and serum C-peptide and glucose assessed the correlations between melatonin and the remaining parameters. Our results showed a significant negative correlation between melatonin and C-peptide. The profile of melatonin was physiological, decreasing after wake-up, showing minor changes during the daytime and increasing in the evening. As documented, lesser alterations were indicated in the course of the melatonin daytime profile, which may reflect periodic food intake. Food intake is not the primary factor influencing the melatonin course. While previous studies have mostly considered the protective effect of melatonin in diabetic subjects, our study brought the results suggesting food intake as a factor contributing to daytime melatonin variation in humans. However, the physiological role of melatonin association with food intake in daytime remains in question and should be further investigated., L. Stárka, M. Dušková, B. Rácz, K. Šimůnková, M. Hill, R. Kancheva., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy