The distribution of HLA-antigens in german patients with idiopathic hemochromatosis

Summary HLA-phenotypes were determined in 31 (30 unrelated) patients with hemochromatosis and compared to the distribution of HLA-antigens in the general German population. A significant excess of HLA-A3 was observed (76.7% vs. 30.2%). The frequency of HLA-B7 was also increased (53.3% vs. 27.0%). However, the difference did not quite reach the level of statistical significance, when correction for multiple comparisons was made. Our finding are in accord with previous observations for different ethnic groups, indicating an association of IH with the A3/B7 haplotype.     

少精子症患者血清和精浆性激素水平的测定及其意义

通过测定少精子症患者血清和精浆睾酮(T)、游离睾酮(FT)和性激素结合球蛋白(SHBG)水平,比较分析血清、精浆T、FT、SHBG与少精子症的关系。对照组和少精子组男性于上午8:0010:00留取血标本,同时留取精液。精液常规分析判断精子密度,RIA测定血清、精浆T、FT、SHBG水平。少精子症患者血清T、FT、SHBG浓度分别为28.11±11.54nmol/L、94.88±42.04pmol/L、41.61±18.86nmol/L,与对照组30.03±13.07nmol/L、97.50±46.96pmol/L、40.37±16.73nmol/L相比,无显著性差异(P>0.05);少精子症患者精浆T浓度为1.60±1.09nmol/L,低于对照组1.99±1.18nmol/L,但无显著性差异(P>0.05);少精子症患者精浆FT浓度0.52±0.44pmol/L显著低于对照组2.01±0.32pmol/L(P<0.01);而少精子症患者精浆SHBG浓度0.22±0.15nmol/L,显著高于对照组0.17±0.21nmol/L(P<0.01)。精浆FT、SHBG的测定有利于少精症患者的早期诊断和治疗。     

Influence of training on the response of androgen plasma concentrations to exercise in swimmers

In eight top-level male endurance swimmers the aerobic performance and the response to exercise of total testosterone (T), free testosterone (fT), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), non-SHBG-bound testosterone (NST) and cortisol (C) were evaluated during a training season. The swimmers participated in three test sessions which occurred 6, 12 and 24 weeks after the beginning of the season. During each session, after a standard warm-up, the swimmers performed a set of 15 × 200-m freestyle, with a 20-s rest between repetitions, at a predetermined individual speed. Three blood samples were collected: before warm-up, at the end of the set, and after 1 h of recovery. A few days before each session, the individual swimming velocity associated with a 4 mmol · l^–1 blood lactate concentration (₄) was assessed as a standard of aerobic performance. The values of ₄ were lower in the second session than in the third one. The concentrations of C, which increased after the exercise, showed the highest values in the second session. The values of T and the T: SHBG ratio increased after the exercise but returned to their initial concentrations during the recovery period. The values of fT and NST increased after the exercise in the first and third sessions. In the initial two sessions, when the aerobic performance was still low, the concentrations of NST decreased to below the initial values after recovery. In session III, when the adaptation to the training workload was complete, NST returned to resting concentrations after recovery. The results would suggest that stressful stimuli produced by an increase in training volume may induce changes in androgen metabolism during exercise. In this respect, NST would appear to be a better index of metabolic response than T, T/SHBG and fT.     

Endocrine response to intense interval exercise

Summary This investigation provides an insight into the physiological changes produced, and processes operating, during and after a typical interval exercise training regime. The role of interval exercise in the modulation of the plasma concentration of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and the hormones -oestradiol, testosterone, prolactin and growth hormone was assessed. Eight trained male athletes [mean maximal oxygen uptake ( O_2max 64.3 (SD 3.8) ml·kg^–1·min^–1, mean age 31.5 (SD 4.5) years] undertook an intense interval exercise (treadmill running) protocol to exhaustion. Subjects completed an average of 15.6×1-min runs. This interval protocol produced significant increase in the plasma concentration of SHBG and all four hormones (all P<0.01) in the immediate post-test period. The plasma concentration of the hormones increased as indicated: -oestradiol (45%), testosterone (38%), prolactin (230%), growth hormone (2000%). These hormones have an established capacity to interact with components of many physiological systems and, as such, may provide a mechanism for the changes induced by intense exercise in many of these systems.     

Testosterone treatment of pregnant rabbits affects sexual development of their daughters

The intrauterine position (IUP) may affect the sexual development of a female fetus in litter-bearing mammals. Females gestating between two males (2M) develop into masculinized adults compared to females without contiguous males (0M). Fetuses are known to secrete different types and amounts of steroid hormones during the prenatal period, and diffusing steroids may affect sexual differentiation of their neighbors, too. Exposure of elevated testosterone (T) levels generally results in masculinized anatomy and behavior in females of several rodent species. Our recent study showed that IUP-dependent masculinization is also present in the domestic rabbit, which shows large variation in sex related traits as adults. The aim of the present study was to test if the IUP effect in rabbits can be induced by exogenous testosterone treatment. By administering different doses of testosterone propionate (TP) to pregnant rabbits, and following anatomical and behavioral development of their female offspring, we obtained dose-dependent increase both in the anogenital distance (AGD) and chin-marking behavior of prenatal T exposed females. The effects of treatment corresponded to the variation due to intrauterine position in our previous study, namely, exposure to T of known external origin resulted in similar tendencies of masculinization in rabbit females as the in utero proximity to male siblings. Our results suggest that the IUP effects may have similar physiological bases across different mammalian taxa including Lagomorphs.     

男性2型糖尿病患者睾酮及性激素结合球蛋白水平分析

目的探讨男性2型糖尿病患者睾酮及性激素结合球蛋白(SHBG)水平与非糖尿病人群的差异及意义。方法以化学发光法测定60名男性2型糖尿病患者及51名非糖尿病男性血清SHBG及总睾酮水平。结果男性2型糖尿病患者SHBG及总睾酮水平显著低于对照组(P<0.01);与对照组相比,糖尿病患者随年龄增加游离睾酮水平下降明显;多元逐步回归分析发现糖尿病患者游离睾酮水平与年龄、糖化血红蛋白呈负相关(r=-0.483、P<0.01,r=-0.257、P<0.05)。结论2型糖尿病患者SHBG及睾酮水平的降低是独立年龄、体重指数(BMI)因素之外的,游离睾酮水平同血糖控制有关,其原因尚待进一步探讨。     

Testosterone aromatization in high and low mating lines of gallinaceous birds

Capons from high (HML) and low (LML) mating lines of Japanese quail and chickens received testosterone propionate, 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT) or estradiol benzoate injections after which copulatory behavior was observed during exposure to live females and to a female model. With live females, the testosterone-treated HML capons mated significantly more than the other HML groups. All LML capons mated infrequently and at comparable levels. When tested with the model, estrogen-treated LML capons mated significantly more frequently than testosterone-treated LML capons, suggesting testosterone aromatization rate was affecting mating activity. This possibility was tested with HLM and LML intact cocks and capons receiving silastic implants of either testosterone, 5α-DHT or a combination of estradiol and 5α-DHT (E+DHT). Mating activity of intact HML cocks, T-treated, and E+DHT-treated HML capons were similar, and all groups mated significantly more than the control or 5α-DHT-treated capons. There were no significant differences between any of the LML groups. The data suggested that limited testosterone aromatization was not the cause of relatively reduced sexual activity in the LML males.     

Relationship of free and bound testosterone to sexual behavior in old rhesus males

Total serum testosterone concentrations, percentage of total serum testosterone bound to testosterone-binding globulin (TeBG), and estimates of free testosterone concentrations were determined in old and young male rhesus macaques. Also the sexual performance of the old (20 years and older) males was studied. The two groups did not differ in either the mean level of total testosterone or the index of free testosterone but the old males had a significantly higher percentage of testosterone bound to TeBG than did the young (10 years old) ones. We found significant negative correlations between the percentage of testosterone binding and sexual behavior in the old males. The percentage of bound testosterone was negatively correlated with the rates of contacting females, mounting, and intromission, and with the percentages of tests during which intromission and ejaculation occurred. Neither the total serum testosterone level nor the index of free testosterone correlated with the level of sexual performance.     

维吾尔族男性血清性激素结合球蛋白与2型糖尿病及其危险因素的相关性分析

目的 探讨维族男性血清性激素结合球蛋白、性激素与2型糖尿病及其危险因素的关系.方法 用随机对照方法纳入维族男性2型糖尿病患者81例和正常对照组65例,分别测量血压,检测空腹血糖、胰岛素、糖化血红蛋白、血脂、性激素、性激素结合球蛋白,计算体重指数和胰岛素抵抗指数,比较2型糖尿病组和对照组的上述指标水平,并探讨性激素、性激素结合球蛋白与2型糖尿病相关指标及其危险因素的关系.结果 2型糖尿病组空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素、糖化血红蛋白均高于正常对照组,而性激素结合球蛋白、睾酮低于正常对照组,P均小于0.05.应用Pearson相关以及Spearman秩相关作相关分析,维族男性2型糖尿病患者血清性激素结合球蛋白、血清睾酮均分别与体重指数（r=-0.485,r=-0.543）、空腹胰岛素（r=-0.467,r=-0.423）、甘油三酯（r=-0.442,r=-0.351）呈负相关,血清睾酮与高密度脂蛋白（r=0.317）呈正相关,P均小于0.05.结论 在维族男性中,血清性激素结合球蛋白、血清睾酮可能是2型糖尿病的保护因素.     

Differential effects of exercise on sex hormone-binding globulin and non-sex hormone-binding globulin-bound testosterone

The response of total testosterone (T), free testosterone (fT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and non-SHBG-bound testosterone (NST) to the same exercise protocol was evaluated in two different experiments on long distance runners. The first experiment was performed in the morning at 0900 hours with nine athletes, while the second was carried out in the afternoon at 1500 hours with seven athletes. During each experiment, each athlete ran for 1 h at the previously determined speed corresponding to 2 mmol · l^–1 blood lactate concentration. Three venous blood samples were collected in each experiment: before exercise, at the end of running and after 1 h of recovery. Total T and SHBG showed similar responses: in the first experiment they had decreased after exercise, while in the second they had increased at the end of running. A positive correlation between total T and SHBG concentrations was found at the end of exercise. In both experiments, NST and fT had increased after exercise and decreased to initial concentrations during recovery. The results would suggest the existence of a compensatory mechanism which maintains adequate concentrations of biologically active T when total T concentrations decrease.     

Generation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a common genetic disease with autosomal recessive transmission and is characterized by a dysregulation of iron metabolism, leading to serum iron overload and its progressive accumulation in most body tissues. The effects of HH on the immune system include altered lymphocytosis and functions of monocytes. Moreover, monocytes can differentiate into dendritic cells (DCs), which play crucial roles in the immune response (capture, processing, and presentation of antigen to effector T cells) and this process was shown to be impaired in several pathologies. The aim of this study was to determine whether the monocytes from HH patients still displayed the ability to differentiate into DCs. To that purpose, purified monocytes from healthy donors and HH patients were cultured in the appropriate medium. The results showed no phenotypic and functional differences, at both the immature and the mature stages. Furthermore, our work reports altered lymphocytosis with expanded CD8+CD28- T cell subset. These monocyte-derived DCs could therefore be a solid vector for DC-based immunotherapy and a powerful tool for investigating the immune regulatory loops and especially the biological relevance of the expanded CD8+CD28- T cells since this population has also been described as suppressor T cells.     

Influence of long-term isolation on the production and metabolism of gonadal sex steroids in male and female rats.

The influence of long-term isolation on in vitro testosterone metabolism in the gonad, and on plasma testosterone and estradiol-17β concentrations, was studied in male and female Wistar rats. The following metabolites of testosterone-4-¹⁴C were isolated: androstenedione, 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione, androstenediol, estradiol-17β, estrone, and estriol. Biosynthesis of androstenedione and estriol was not influenced by isolation; biosynthesis of 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione and androstenediol was increased after isolation in females, while biosynthesis of estradiol-17β and estrone was lowered in this sex. Plasma testosterone showed a significant increase in isolated males, while estradiol-17β was unaffected by isolation. The general effect produced by isolation seems to result in an increase of androgens in both sexes. In females such effect is evident in a higher conversion of testosterone into androgens and in a lower biosynthesis of estrogens. In males the increase of androgens is evident in the higher level of plasma testosterone. Some behavioral effects of long term isolation were established by means of two aggression tests, which showed an increase of aggressiveness. These findings suggest that the condition of housing may be a major parameter affecting the production of sex steroids.     

Plasma testosterone levels and sexual performance of young obese male Zucker rats

The sexual behavior of obese male Zucker rats was studied at the age of 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, and 16 weeks. Between 12–14 weeks of age, obese rats were treated with 400 μg testosterone propionate daily. Plasma testosterone levels were determined at the age of 10, 14, 16, and 20 weeks. Compared to lean rats, the sexual performance of the obese rats was abnormal at all ages. Plasma testosterone levels of obese rats were significantly lower at the age of 20 weeks but not at the age of 10 and 16 weeks, compared to those of their lean littermates. At the age of 14 weeks, after 2 weeks of testosterone treatment, plasma testosterone concentration rose to levels significantly higher than those of their lean littermates. However, there was no improvement in their sexual behavior following this period of hormone treatment. This study strongly suggests that obese male Zucker rats have abnormal reproductive function at all ages and that testosterone deficiency is not a primary cause of this abnormality.     

Effects on sex hormone binding globulin capacity and pregnancy zone protein of treatment with combinations of ethinyl-oestradiol and norethisterone

Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and pregnancy zone protein (PZP) are two highly oestrogen-inducible serum proteins. SHBG capacity and PZP level were measured in 49 women treated with three different combinations of ethinyloestradiol and norethisterone. SHBG capacity and PZP were measured before and after 6 mth of treatment and both serum factors significantly increased during treatment for all three groups. PZP induction was found to be more sensitive and mainly to reflect the oestrogen component of a combined preparation while SHBG capacity was more sensitive to the modulating effect of the progestogen.     

妊娠期糖尿病患者胎儿脐血血清中SHBG水平的变化及意义

目的 检测妊娠期糖尿病（GDM）患者其新生儿脐血血清中性激素结合球蛋白（SHBG）、血糖、胰岛素及IR的水平。探讨其在新生儿脐血中的变化规律及对新生儿生长发育的影响。方法 采用酶联免疫吸附双抗体夹心法（ELISA）测定22例GDM患者和21例正常妊娠妇女新生儿血清中SHBG的浓度，用放免电化学发光法检测血清中的胰岛素（INS）浓度。结果 GDM组实验组脐血中SHBG浓度、血糖水平均明显低于正常对照组，差异显著（P〈0．01）；空腹胰岛素浓度明显高于正常对照组，差异显著（P〈0．01），IR在两组中无明显差异（P〉0．05）。SHBG与体重及脐血FIns浓度均呈负相关。结论 SHBG与肥胖关系非常密切，它可能是早期肥胖及DM发生、发展的高危因素，也可能成为预测新生儿发展为肥胖的一个重要指标。     

Sex differences in response of the thyroid gland and its sensitivity to thyrotropic hormone after administration of estradiol,testosterone, and progesterone

Experiments with Sprague-Dawley rats showed that after injection of estradiol benzoate, testosterone propionate, and progesterone the weight of the thyroid gland and the thyroxinebinding capacity (TBC) of the blood plasma proteins were higher in females than in males. The level of total thyroxine (TT₄) and the free thyroxine (FT₄) index were lower in females than in males after injection of testosterone propionate and progesterone. In males estradiol benzoate raised the TT₄ and FT₄ levels and in females it led to an increase in the TT₄ and TBC content. Testosterone propionate lowered the sensitivity of the thyroid gland to thyrotropic hormone. Progesterone had a stimulating action on the thyroid gland and caused a greater increase in the intensity of its function and its more rapid exhaustion in females than in males.Department of Human Physiology, Chernovtsy Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR N. A. Yudaev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 9, pp. 1110–1112, September, 1976.     

特发性炎性肌病的药物治疗

特发性炎性肌病（IIM）是一组与免疫失调有关的疾病，包括细胞免疫和体液免疫的异常。主要的治疗药物是糖皮质激素和免疫抑制剂。对于难治性病例，现有的药物常常无效，这就需要针对IIM的发病机制开发新型的治疗药物。文中就特发性炎症性肌病的药物治疗进行综述，并且阐述了治疗效果的评估标准，讨论了药物治疗中存在的问题和今后的研究方向。     

SHBG等指标在单纯饮食控制的妊娠期糖尿病患者血清中的变化研究

目的检测单纯饮食控制治疗的妊娠期糖尿病(GDM)患者血清中性激素结合球蛋白(SHBG)、空腹胰岛素(FINS)、空腹血糖(FBG)水平和胰岛素抵抗(IR),探讨SHBG等指标在单纯饮食控制的GDM患者血清中的变化。方法用酶连免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定26例妊娠期糖尿病患者单纯饮食控制前后的静脉血血清中SHBG和FINS、FBG水平和IR。结果治疗后血糖浓度明显降低,P<0.05;单纯饮食控制后的GDM血清中SHBG的浓度明显高于治疗前,P<0.05;而FINS、IR则无明显变化。结论单纯的饮食控制一周就能使FBG、SHBG的指标发生变化。饮食控制确是GDM首选并有效的治疗方法,同时SHBG可作为早期预测GDM治疗疗效的一个敏感指标。     

基因重组人生长激素治疗特发性身材矮小儿童的临床观察

目的为了了解基因重组人生长激素(r-hGH)治疗特发性身材矮小儿童时其对身高、青春期的影响.方法我们对14例特发性身材矮小(ISS)儿童采用r-hGH治疗3～12月,比较其治疗前后的年生长速率和青春发育情况.结果经r-hGH治疗,特发性身材矮小儿童的年生长速率有显著提高,身高年龄的增长明显快于生活年龄和骨龄的增长,但没有明显青春期加速的现象.结论r-hGH可显著改善特发性身材矮小儿童的身高,且青春期、骨龄均不提前.