Plasma levels of 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol in boys during adolescent growth.

A radioimmunoassay using as antibody against testosterone-3-carboxymethyloxime-BSA is described for the measurement of androstanediol (5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol) in human plasma. Sephadex LH 20-column chromatography was used to separate other steroids croos-reaching with the antibody from androstanediol. The sensitivity of the assay was 7 pg and the recovery of labelled androstanediol was 65.1%. The intra-assay coefficient of variation was 9.9%. The existence of 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol in the androstanediol fraction could be demonstrated by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Plasma concentration of this substance was measured in 53 normally developing pre-pubertal and pubertal boys and in 13 adult men. The mean concentrations significantly rose from puberty stage 1 to 2, and stage 2 to 3. Although there was no significant difference between the plasma concentrations at stages 3 and 4, an increment from stage 4 and 5 was highly significant. Levels in adult males were significantly higher than those in the stage 5 of normal puberty.