Prolactin secretion and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate plasma levels in women with benign breast disease

The purpose of the present investigation was to verify possible positive correlations between prolactin secretion and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels in plasma of women with benign breast disease. Prolactin secretion was evaluated in terms of basal levels, maximum peak, percent increase above baseline levels, total integrated area, response area after TRH stimulation. No correlation was found between the parameters of prolactin secretion and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels.     

Serum dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in baboon (Papio Papio) pregnancy.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (D) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DS) concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay in peripheral sera of non-pregnant, pregnant (55 days to term) and newborn baboons and in umbilical sera of animals delivered by Caesarean section close to term. D concentrations (mean +/- SD, microng/100 ml, N) in non-pregnany animals (1.61 +/- 1.32, 23) were not different (P greater than 0.05) from those during pregnancy (1.80 +/- 1.21, 101). DS concentrations, expressed as unconjugated D, in non-pregnant (13.5 +/- 6.0, 23) and pregnant (15.1 +/- 7.5, 101) animals were also similar (P greater than 0.05). However, both D (P less than 0.01) and DS (P less than 0.005) levels increased with gestational age such that serum D (2.46 +/- 1.39, 23, P less than 0.05) and DS (18.9 +/- 5.7, 23, P less than 0.001) levels between 150 and 180 days gestation were greater than in non-pregnant animals. These increases may be important since oestrogen production rises rapidly during late gestation and both D and DS can serve as oestrogen precursors. In both non-pregnant (P less than 0.005) and pregnant (P less than 0.001) animals D and DS concentrations (ratio 1:8) were correlated. Cord serum D levels (2.4 +/- 1.4, 5) were not different from those of maternal serum (P greater than 0.05), while cord DS levels (40.3 +/- 14.8) were greater (P less than 0.001) than those of maternal serum. This may reflect rapid equilibration of D but not DS between foetal and maternal circulations. In sera from neonates, D (19.4 +/- 14.6, 8) and DS 567 +/- 570, 8) concentrations were greater (P less than 0.001) than those in maternal serum, indicating marked post-partal changes in clearance or production of both compounds. The high levels of D and DS in cord and newborn wera are compatible with the view that the baboon foetus makes appreciable contributions of oestrogen precurosrs in pregnancy.     

Cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate/cortisol ratio responses to physical stress in males are influenced by pubertal development

To evaluate the influence of chronological age and pubertal development on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to stress, we studied the possible correlations between male pubertal characteristics and salivary cortisol (C), DHEAS and the DHEAS/C ratio before (pre-stress) and after acute exercise-stress in young male volunteers (no. 87; 13.3+/-2.1 yr). In our overall study population, the mean pre-stress salivary C and DHEAS concentrations, significantly increased after exercise-related stress, whereas the DHEAS/C ratio significantly decreased. Pre-stress salivary C was positively correlated with chronological age, and after-stress salivary C concentration variations were negatively correlated with pubertal stage, mean testis volume and pre-stress salivary DHEAS. Furthermore, salivary DHEAS concentrations and the DHEAS/C ratio, before and after exercise stress, were positively correlated with chronological age, pubertal stage, pre-stress salivary testosterone (T), testis volume and body mass index (BMI). In contrast with late pubertal stages (P4, P5), young individuals at early stages of puberty (P1 to P3) showed higher C increase and lower DHEAS/C ratio after exercise-related stress. In conclusion, since C is also a mediator of stress-related negative effects on health and the DHEAS/C ratio has been hypothesized as an index for the degree to which an individual is buffered against the negative effects of stress, these data might suggest potentially increased stress-related risks at early stages of male puberty.     

脱氢表雄酮对老年男性记忆力的改善作用

目的　探讨小剂量 (≤ 50 mg)脱氢表雄酮硫酸酯 ( DS)对老年男性记忆力的影响。　方法　双盲对照观察老年男性 64例口服 DS 3个月后记忆力的变化 ,其中治疗 A组每天口服 DS 2 5mg、治疗 B组每天 50 mg。以放免法测定治疗前后血清脱氢表雄酮 ( DHEA)和 DS,韦氏记忆量表测定记忆商 ( MQ)。　结果　治疗 A组 3个月后较服药前 DS提高 ( 2 .7± 0 .5) nmol/ L,MQ提高 ( 1 4 .6±6.1 )分 ( P<0 .0 1 ) ;治疗 B组 3个月后较服药前 DS提高 ( 4.4± 1 .5) nmol/ L,MQ提高 ( 1 2 .2± 8.7)分( P<0 .0 1 )。两治疗组 MQ均较对照组明显提高 ( P<0 .0 1 )。　结论　口服小剂量 DS对老年男性的记忆力有一定的改善作用。     

The relationship between prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and testosterone in normally menstruating females

Circulating levels of prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and testosterone (T) were measured in single blood samples from 115 normal women throughout the menstrual cycle. There was an inverse relationship between prolactin and both DHEAS and T. Subjects with high serum prolactin levels had significantly lower levels of DHEAS and T.     

The role of ACTH in regulating dehydroepiandrosterone secretion in primates

The effect of repeated administration of a prolonged ACTH agent on the secretion of glucocorticoids, dehydroepiandrosterone (DEA) and delta 4- and delta 5-precursors was studied in experiments on male hamadryas baboons. The administration of Sinacten-depot at a dose of 1 mg for 5 days caused a noticeable decrease in the basal levels of cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol, pregnenolone, 17-oxypregnenolone, and DEA. Response of the adrenal glands to additional ACTH stimulation against a background of lowered basal indicators was completely preserved and increased 2-3-fold for pregnenolone, 17-oxypregnenolone and DEA. The amplitude of a maximum increment of cortisol in response to stress before and after ACTH treatment did not differ significantly, and for DEA it increased three times. Immobilization stress after preliminary ACTH treatment caused a stable increase in the level of DEA during stress factor action as well as 3 days after drug action.     

Role of prolactin in age-related change in serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentrations

Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentrations were measured in 70 patients with prolactinoma and in 54 patients with acromegaly with normal adrenocortical function. Compared with values in normal subjects of corresponding age, serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels were increased in 22 patients with prolactinoma (31%) and in 5 patients with acromegaly (9%). The four acromegalic patients who had elevated serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels had hyperprolactinemia. The mean serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentrations in patients with prolactinoma in each decade decreased with advancing age. There was a significant negative correlation between serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentrations and ages of the patients with prolactinoma. In all 8 women with prolactinoma as in 6 normal women, serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels declined definitely during the 9 years of follow-up despite persistent hyperprolactinemia. These results indicate that serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels are increased in a substantial number of patients with hyperprolactinemia, however, PRL per se may not play a significant role in the age-related change in serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels.     

Does beclomethasone dipropionate suppress dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in postmenopausal women?

Abstract Background: Patients with chronic obstructive airways disease and asthma are at special risk of developing osteoporosis. Previous research has indicated that adrenal androgen levels in postmenopausal women are suppressed by short term high dose inhaled corticosteroids. Such an effect, if sustained, may be a causative factor for long term bone loss. We tested the hypothesis that postmenopausal women receiving ≥1 mg/day inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate, long term, have suppressed dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels when compared to postmenopausal controls. Methods: As part of a larger study, we studied 36 postmenopausal subjects, recruited from regional pharmacies and a hospital chest clinic, who had been receiving treatment for asthma. Subjects were selected if they were receiving ≥1 mg/day inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (n= 27) or receiving no beclomethasone dipropionate (n= 9). The two groups were compared for dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels, age and potential confounders. Results: Mean dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels were 35% lower in the high dose beclomethasone dipropionate group than the control group (p<0.01). Conclusions: This is the first report of suppression of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in postmenopausal women receiving long term inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate. Further research is needed to clarify whether or not there is any associated clinically important adverse effect on bone density. (Aust NZ J Med 1994; 24: 396–401.)     

The gastric secretion of pepsin in man

The spontaneous output of pepsin was not found to be significantly reduced in this study of patients who had had a vagotomy.