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 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
Parabens are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. They are known to possess estrogenic effects, and therefore have been classified as endocrine disruptors. In addition to the classical endocrine organs, other tissues have endocrine activity, including adipose tissue. Several chemicals are known to cause obesogenic effects, and parabens are currently being studied in this context. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible connections of paraben exposure and obesity. Blood plasma from 27 healthy women was collected during their menstrual cycle. Basal anthropometric measures, levels of parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben and propylparaben), adipokines (adiponectin, adipsin, leptin, resistin and visfatin) and hormones affecting energy balance and metabolic health (c-peptide, ghreline, GIP, GLP-1, glucagon, insulin, PAI-1) were measured. A Kolmogorov- Smirnov test showed higher methylparaben and propylparaben levels in women with BMI 25-34.9 compared to those with BMI 18.5-24.9. Plasma levels of methylparaben as well as the sum of parabens were positively associated with the plasma adipsin levels. Negative associations for methylparaben were found for glucagon, leptin and PAI-1. In accordance with other experimental studies we observed important associations of methylparaben and hormones affecting energy balance and metabolic health, indicating its obesogenic potential., L. Kolatorova, M. Sramkova, J. Vitku, J. Vcelak, O. Lischkova, L. Starka, M. Duskova., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are known to have harmful effects on the human endocrine system; special effort is actually given to the exposure during pregnancy. Humans are usually exposed to a mixture of EDs, which may potentiate or antagonize each other, and the combined effect may be difficult to estimate. The main phthalate monoesters monoethyl-, mono-n -butyl-, monoisobutyl-, monobenzyl-, mono-(2-ethylhexyl)-, mono-(2- ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl)- and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate were determined in 18 maternal (37th week of pregnancy) and cord plasma samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Previously determined levels of selected bisphenols, parabens and steroids were also considered in this study. In cord blood, there were significantly higher mono-n-butyl phthalate levels than in maternal blood (p=0.043). The results of multiple regression models showed that maternal plasma phthalates were negatively associated with cord plasma androstenedione, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone and positively associated with estradiol and estriol. For estriol, a cumulative association was also observed for Σbisphenols. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first pilot study evaluating the effect of prenatal exposure by multiple EDs on newborn steroidogenesis. Our results confirmed phthalate accumulation in the fetal area and disruption of fetal steroidogenesis. This preliminary study highlights the negative impacts of in utero EDs exposure on fetal steroidogenesis., L. Kolatorova, J. Vitku, A. Vavrous, R. Hampl, K. Adamcova, M. Simkova, A. Parizek, L. Starka, M. Duskova., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In modern societies, living organisms are exposed daily to multiform pollution from industrial chemical products. Some of these substances have been shown to affect the endocrine system, and have been termed endocrine disruptors (EDs). Bisphenol A (BPA), which can leach from plastics, and parabens, used in cosmetic products, are among the most well-studied. Prenatal development is a vulnerable phase of human life, and disruptions during this period may have lifelong consequences. Since EDs are known to cross the placental barrier and BPA may accumulate in the fetus, "BPA-free" products have been introduced to the market. However, such products often contain alternative bisphenols (e.g. BPS, BPF) that have not yet been extensively examined or regulated. Moreover, alternative bisphenols often occur together with BPA. The human organism is thus exposed to a mixture of EDs, some of which can have additive or synergic effects. Recent findings have also shown that paraben exposure can alter bisphenol pharmacokinetics. Taking into account the widespread occurrence of various EDs and the potential multiplicity of their effects, doses of EDs currently considered safe may not actually be as safe as they appear, especially during pregnancy., L. Kolatorova, M. Duskova, J. Vitku, L. Starka., and Obsahuje bibliografii