Recent molecular biology findings have shown that for the penetration of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus into host cells, a key role is played by protease serine 2, the activity of which is dependent on androgens. The important role of androgens is also evidenced by clinical observations that men in some age categories are infected by this novel coronavirus up to two times more frequently than women. In addition, men with androgenic alopecia tend to have more serious clinical courses, while men with androgen deprivation as a result of prostate cancer treatments tend to have milder courses. This is in line with the fact that preadolescent children are only rarely sickened with serious forms of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Even though these observations may be explained by other factors, many authors have hypothesized that lowered androgen levels and blocking their activity using anti-androgen medication may moderate the course of the viral infection in intermediately- to critically-affected cases. Clearly, it would be important for androgen deprivation to block not just gonadal androgens, but also adrenal androgens. On the other hand, low androgen levels are considered to be a risk factor for the course of SARS-CoV-2 infections, either because low androgen levels have a general effect on anaboliccatabolic equilibrium and energy metabolism, or because of the ability of testosterone to modify the immune system. It is not yet clear if infection with this novel coronavirus might induce hypogonadism, leading to undesirable side effects on male fertility.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and little is known about this disease. It has been reported that advanced age is considered a major risk factor for COVID-19 complications, and data suggest that this disease is deadlier for men than women but these observations are currently unclear. Regarding androgen action, it has been shown that certain smooth muscles are a target for androgens by inducing an acute relaxing effect in airway and vascular tissues that is nongenomically mediated; likewise, androgens are capable of inducing genomic anti-inflammatory and nongenomic hypotensive responses. The aim of this report is to associate the relationship between COVID-19 and aging men as well as the comorbidities presented in this group of patients linked with androgen deficiency. Remarkably, the nongenomic mechanisms of androgens as potential protectors are reviewed. On this basis, it is suggested that hypotestosteronemia may be a risk factor for COVID-19 severity.
Obesity in children is accompanied by increased circulating leptin concentrations. Girls have higher leptin concentrations than boys. The aim of our study was to compare serum leptin levels before and after a five-week weight reduction program and to study the relationship of leptin levels, serum total cholesterol, and androgens (testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate) in 33 obese boys (age: 12.71.97 years, BMI: 30.46±4.54) and 66 obese girls (age: 12.7±2.51 years, BMI: 29.31±4.62). We found that serum leptin concentrations in obese children were significantly decreased after a weight reduction program (before 20.79±9.61 ng/ml, after 13.50±8.65 ng/ml in girls; before 12.25±10.09 ng/ml and after 5.18±3.56 ng/ml in boys, p<0.0001 in both genders). Leptin levels correlated positively with the body mass index before and after weight reduction. There was a positive association in obese boys and a negative one in obese girls between leptin levels and the WHR (waist to hip circumference ratio). Serum leptin also shows a strong relationship to fat distribution (p = 0.02 in boys, p<0.0001 in girls). No significant correlation was found between leptin concentrations and total cholesterol or androgens. We confirmed that leptin is a sensitive parameter of body composition and weight reduction in obese children., R. Pilcová, J. Šulcová, M. Hill, P. Bláha, L. Lisá., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The sex steroid hormones (SSHs) such as testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, and their metabolites have important organizational and activational impacts on the brain during critical periods of brain development and in adulthood. A variety of slow and rapid mechanisms mediate both organizational and activational processes via intracellular or membrane receptors for SSHs. Physiological concentrations and distribution of SSHs in the brain result in normal brain development. Nevertheless, dysregulation of hormonal equilibrium may result in several mood disorders, including depressive disorders, later in adolescence or adulthood. Gender differences in cognitive abilities, emotions as well as the 2-3 times higher prevalence of depressive disorders in females, were already described. This implies that SSHs may play a role in the development of depressive disorders. In this review, we discuss preclinical and clinical studies linked to SSHs and development of depressive disorders. Our secondary aim includes a review of up-to-date knowledge about molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders. Understanding these molecular mechanisms might lead to significant treatment adjustments for patients with depressive disorders and to an amelioration of clinical outcomes for these patients. Nevertheless, the impact of SSHs on the brain in the context of the development of depressive disorders, progression, and treatment responsiveness is complex in nature, and depends upon several factors in concert such as gender, age, comorbidities, and general health conditions.
In order to assess whether intratesticular hormone content may be helpful for prediction of successful conception in men with fertility problems, five sex steroids, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, estradiol and, for the first time epitestosterone, were measured in testicular tissue obtained by surgical retrieval from total 84 men. The group consisted of non-obstructive azoospermic men, aged 21-67 years who attended the centre for in vitro fertilization. Steroids after ether extraction and solvent partition were separated by high performance liquid chromatography and then measured by specific radioimmunoassays. The values varied considerably with means ± S.D. 2.43±2.47, 0.27±0.24, 0.080±0.13, 0.071± 0.089 and 0.31±0.27 for testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, estradiol and epitestosterone, respectively., L. Zamrazilová ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The influence of estradiol and testosterone on body growth of young male Wistar rats was investigated. In the first experiment, estradiol was given to intact ad libitum fed male rats at 32, 37 and 42 days of age. Moreover, two untreated groups of animals were used: one was fed rcstrictedly according to the food intake of animals receiving estradiol and another was fed ad libitum. The animals were sacrificed at 47 days of age. Both untreated groups of animals achieved significantly higher body weight and length of tibia than estradiol treated animals. Also the growth of the tail of untreated animals was more intensive than that of estradiol treated animals. In the second experiment, estradiol was given to intact ad libitum fed male rats at 30, 35 and 45 days of age. Moreover, testosterone was given to a half of these animals at 45, 50 and 55 days of age. The animals were sacrificed at 60 days of age. Administration of testosterone significantly increased the growth of the tail and tibia in comparison to the animals which did not receive testosterone after estradiol administration. The results of the present study show that the inhibitory effect of estradiol on body growth of young male rats is not only the result of decreased food intake and that testosterone can improve the skeletal growth of male rats altered by previously given estradiol.
Recently it has been shown that vitamin D3 acting via its cognate receptor (VDR) regulates the growth, differentiation and function of female reproductive tissues including ovary. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of testosterone (T) and its antagonist 2-hydroxyflutamide (HF) on VDR protein expression and function in porcine ovarian follicles. Medium size antral follicles expressing great amount of androgen receptors and represent high steroidogenic activity were used in this research. After 6 h incubation of whole follicles with T, HF or T+HF, immunohistochemical analysis of VDR revealed its nuclear localization in granulosa and theca interna cells in control and experimental groups. The expression of VDR protein was shown as a band of 48 kDa. There were no significant differences between either experimental group and the control. T influenced the function of VDR through decreased formation of VDR/RXR (retinoid X receptor) complexes (P<0.05) in both granulosa and theca interna cells, but HF abolished this effect only in granulosa cells (P<0.05). These results suggest that androgens regulate the response of follicular cells to vitamin D3 in pigs ovary via regulation of VDR transcriptional activity., M. Herian, M. R. Luck, M. Grzesiak., and Obsahuje bibliografii