In order to study a possible effect of mini-invasive heart intervention on a response of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal stress axis, we analyzed four stress markers (cortisol, cortisone, DHEA and DHEAS) in 25 sows using minimally invasive heart catheterisation as the stress factor. The marker levels were assessed in four periods of the experiment, (1) the baseline level on the day before intervention, (2) after the introduction of anesthesia, (3) after conducting tissue stimulation or ablation, and (4) after the end of the catheterisation. For statistical analyses we used the non-parametric Friedman test for four dependent samples (including all four stages of the operation) or three dependent samples (influence of operation only, baseline level was excluded). Statistically significant differences in both Friedman tests were found for cortisol and for cortisone. Significant differences for DHEA as well as for DHEAS were found for all tested stages but not for the effect of operation itself. We have concluded that cortisol levels are blunted by the influence of anesthesia after its administration, and therefore decrease back to the baseline at the end of the operation. The other markers (cortisone, DHEA and DHEAS) acted as balanced systems against the injurious stress effect., H. Skarlandtová, M. Bičíková, P. Neužil, M. Mlček, V. Hrachovina, T. Svoboda, E. Medová, J. Kudlička, A. Dohnalová, Š. Havránek, H. Kazihnítková, L. Máčová, E. Vařejková, O. Kittnar., and Obsahuje bibliografii
a1_Chronic smoking alters the circulating levels of sex hormones and possibly also the neuroactive steroids. However, the data available is limited. Therefore, a broad spectrum of free and conjugated steroids and related substances was quantified by GC-MS and RIA in premenopausal smokers and in age-matched (38.9±7.3 years of age) non-smokers in the follicular (FP) and luteal phases (LP) of menstrual cycle (10 non-smokers and 10 smokers, in the FP, and 10 non-smokers and 8 smokers in the LP). Smokers in both phases of the menstrual cycle showed higher levels of conjugated 17-hydroxypregnenolone, 5α-dihydroprogesterone, conjugated isopregnanolone, conjugated 5α-pregnane-3β,20α-diol, conjugated androstenediol, androstenedione, testosterone, free testosterone, conjugated 5α-androstane-3α/β,17β-diols, and higher free testosterone index. In the FP, the smokers exhibited higher levels of conjugated pregnenolone, progesterone, conjugated pregnanolone, lutropin, and a higher lutropin/follitropin ratio, but lower levels of cortisol, allopregnanolone, and pregnanolone. In the LP, the smokers exhibited higher levels of free and conjugated 20α-dihydropregnenolone, free and conjugated dehydroepiandrosterone, free androstenediol, 5α-dihydrotestosterone, free and conjugated androsterone, free and conjugated epiandrosterone, free and conjugated etiocholanolone, 7α/β-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone isomers, and follitropin but lower levels of estradiol and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and lower values of the lutropin/follitropin ratio. In conclusion, chronic cigarette smoking augments serum androgens and their 5α/β-reduced metabolites (including GABAergic substances) but suppresses the levels of estradiol in the LP and SHBG and may induce hyperandrogenism in female smokers., a2_The female smokers had pronouncedly increased serum progestogens but paradoxically suppressed levels of their GABA-ergic metabolites. Further investigation is needed concerning these effects., M. Dušková ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Immunomodulatory steroids, dehydroepiandrosterone and its 7-hydroxylated metabolites and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were determined in sera of 88 women aged 18-75 years. The group consisted of 34 healthy women, 37 women with subclinical and 17 women with manifest hypothyroidism. In all subjects the laboratory parameters of thyroid function (thyrotropin, free thyroxine and triiodothyronine) and thyroid autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin were determined. The aim was to find out 1) whether the above steroids and SHBG levels differ in individual groups according to thyroid status, 2) whether correlations exist among investigated steroids and thyroid laboratory parameters, and 3) whether the respective steroid and SHBG levels differ according to the presence of principal thyroid autoantibodies. With the exception of 7β-hydroxy-dehydroepindrosterone levels, which were decreased in patients with manifest hypothyroidism (p<0.05), no significant differences in steroid and SHBG levels among groups according to diagnosis were found. On the other hand, significantly decreased levels of all the immunomodulatory steroids studied were found in subjects with positive titres of thyroid autoantibodies. This finding was supported by a tight negative correlation among the above steroids and thyroid autoantibodies. In addition, these steroids correlated negatively with thyrotropin and positively with free thyroid hormones. The results point to a negative relationship between the above mentioned immunoprotective steroids and the extent of the autoimmune process in hypothyroidism., K. Drbalová, P. Matucha, M. Matějková-Běhanová, R. Bílek, L. Kříž, H. Kazihnitková, R. Hampl., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex in reaction to stress stimuli. GCs production is not stable over a 24-hour period; the plasma concentration peaks in the morning (approximately upon awakening) and then the plasma levels decrease, reaching the nadir in the evening. In our experiments, the levels of cortisol, cortisone, DHEA and DHEAS were tested in young female pigs (n=23) during heart catheterization at two different day times (in the morning and in the afternoon). The non-parametric Mann-Whitney test for statistical analysis was used. We found only minimal statistical differences in studied markers between the morning and afternoon group (p>0.05). The absence of circadian variation in GCs levels could originate either at an early age of our experimental pigs, or in stressful conditions on the experiment day, or most likely the day before (e.g. social isolation, fasting, transport, and catheterization), respectively. We can conclude there is no difference in the stress load between morning and afternoon experiments, and therefore we can assume the stress load is not a limiting factor for the timing when catheterization should be preferably performed., H. Skarlandtová ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Elevated levels of glucocorticoids lead to the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Local glucocorticoid levels are regulated through the enzyme 11 β -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11 β -HSD 1), an enzyme that regenerates active cortisol from inert cortis one. Increased expression of 11 β - HSD 1 in adipose tissue promotes higher body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Human 11 β - HSD 1 is also responsible for inter-conversion of 7-hydroxylate metabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone (7-OH-DHEA) to their 7-oxo-form. To better understanding the mechanism of the action, we focused on 7-OH- and 7-ox o-DHEA, and their circulating levels during the reductive treatment in adolescent obese patients. We determined plasma levels of 7 α -OH-DHEA, 7 β -OH- DHEA, and 7-oxo-DHEA in 55 adolescent patients aged 13.04- 15.67 years, BMI greater than 90 th percentile. Samples were collected before and after one month of reductive therapy. Circulating levels of 7 α -OH-DHEA decreased during the reductive therapy from 1.727 (1.614; 1.854 , transformed mean with 95 % confidence interval) to 1.530 nm ol/l (1.435; 1.637, p<0.05) in girls and from 1.704 (1.583; 1. 842) to 1.540 nmol/l (1.435; 1.659, p<0.05) in boys. With regard to the level of 7-oxo-DHEA, a significant reduction from 1. 132 (1.044; 1.231) to 0.918 nmol/l (0.844; 1.000, p<0.05) was found after the treatment, but only in boys. No significant difference in 7 β -OH-DHEA levels was observed. In conclusions, diminished levels of 7 α -OH-DHEA indicate its possible effect on activity of 11 β -HSD 1. Further studies are necessary to clarify whether competitive substrates for 11 β -HSD 1 such as 7 α -OH-DHEA could inhibit production of glucocorticoids and may be involved in metabolic processes leading to reduction of obesity., L. Máčová ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy