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Growth and development of an embryo or fetus during human pregnancy mainly depend on intact hormone biosynthesis and metabolism in maternal amniotic fluid (AF). We investigated the hormonal milieu in AF and developed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of 14 sulfated and 6 unconjugated steroids in AF. 65 A F samples (male: female = 35: 30) of mid-gestation ranging from 16 th week of gestation to 25 th week of gestation were analyzed. Reference data of 20 steroid levels in AF of healthy women were provided. 13 sulfated and 3 unconjugated steroids were for the first time quantified in AF by LC-MS/MS. Highest concentrations were found for pregnenolone sulfate (PregS: mean ± SD, 8.6 ± 3.7 ng/mL), 17α-hydroxypregnenolone sulfate (17OHPregS: 4.9 ± 2.0 ng/mL), epitestosterone sulfate (eTS: 7.3 ± 3.6 ng/mL), 16α-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (16OH-DHEAS: 21.5 ± 10.7 ng/mL), androsterone sulfate (AnS: 9.2 ± 7.4 ng/mL), estrone sulfate (E1S: 3.0 ± 3.0 ng/mL), estriol 3-sulfate (E3S: 8.1 ± 4.0 ng/mL) and estriol (E3: 1.2 ± 0.4 ng/mL). Only testosterone (T) showed a significant sex difference (p < 0.0001). Correlations between AF steroids mirrored the steroid metabolism of the feto-placental unit, and not only confirmed the classical steroid pathway, but also pointed to a sulfated steroid pathway., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A highly sensitive and robust method was developed for routine analysis of two progestin metabolites, 17α-hydroxypregnanolone (17OH-Δ5P) and pregnanediol (PD), and 31 other natural and synthetic steroids and related metabolites (estrogens, androgens, corticosteroids, progestins) in river water, as well as influents and effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) using HPLC-MS/MS combined with solid-phase extraction. For the various matrixes considered, the optimized method showed satisfactory performance with recoveries of 70-120% for most of target steroids. The method detection limits (MDLs) ranged from 0.01 to 3ng/L for river water, 0.02 to 10ng/L for WWTP effluents, and 0.1 to 40ng/L for influents with good linearity and reproducibility. The developed method was successfully applied for the analysis of steroids in rivers and WWTP influent and effluents. WWTP influents concentrations of 17OH-Δ5P and PD were 51-256ng/L and up to 400ng/L, respectively, along with androstenedione (concentration range: 38-220ng/L), testosterone (11-26ng/L), estrone (2.3-37ng/L), 17β-estradiol (N.D.-8.7ng/L), 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (N.D.-66ng/L), medroxyprogesterone acetate (N.D.-5.3ng/L), and progesterone (2.0-22ng/L), while only androstenedione (ADD), estrone (E1), and estriol (E3) were detected in effluent with concentrations ranging up to 1.7ng/L, 0.90ng/L and 0.8ng/L, respectively. In river water samples, only ADD and E1 were detected with concentrations up to 1.0ng/L and 0.91ng/L. Our procedure represents the first method for analyzing 17OH-Δ5P and PD in environmental samples along with a large series of steroids., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17OHPreg) are important for understanding the Δ5 pathway (e.g., in adrenarche and obesity). Although mass spectrometry has become the state-of-the-art method for quantifying steroids, there are few comprehensive age-, sex-, and pubertal stage-specific reference ranges for children., Aims: To develop a sensitive and reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for simultaneous quantification of DHEAS and 17OHPreg and to establish entire age-, sex- and pubertal stage-specific reference ranges in children., Methods: A total of 684 children, 453 (243 female, 210 male) with normal body mass index (BMI; <90th) and 231 (132 female, 99 male) obese subjects (>97th), were categorized into 11 age groups, and age- and Tanner stage (PH)-specific reference ranges were determined., Results: The limit of detection was 0.05 nmol/L for 17OHPreg and 0.5 nmol/L for DHEAS. Levels of both steroids declined after the neonatal period. Comparisons with RIA assays (Siemens, Munich, Germany) (DHEAS) and an in-house kit (17OHPreg) revealed 0.95 and 0.93, respectively, as coefficients of determination. Although DHEAS-generally higher in boys-increased continuously starting at 3 to 6 years, 17OHPreg remained largely constant. In obese patients, both were significantly elevated, also in part after alignment to Tanner stages (PH)., Conclusions: UPLC-MS/MS is sensitive and reliable for quantifying DHEAS and 17OHPreg. Our data support differential maturation of CYP17 during adrenarche with successively increasing 17,20-lyase activity but largely constant 17α-hydroxylation activity. Endocrine interpretation of 17OHPreg and DHEAS must consider differential patterns for age, sex, pubertal stage, and BMI., (Copyright © 2017 by the Endocrine Society)

A method for the simultaneous determination of pregnenolone and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone by high-performance liquid chromatography with an immobilized cholesterol oxidation enzyme reactor was developed. Pregnenolone and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone were converted to progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, respectively, by the immobilized enzyme packed into the reactor column, and could thus be monitored by UV absorption at 240 nm. The calibration curves for pregnenolone and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone were linear in the range of 0.4-10 and 0.3-10 μg/ml with a correlation coefficient of 0.9993 and 0.9998, respectively. The detection limit at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 was 0.12 and 0.08 μg/ml for pregnenolone and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, respectively. The conversion rate of pregnenolone to progesterone and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone to 17α-hydroxyprogesterone was 90.6% and 99.3%, respectively. Intra-day and inter-day precision (in terms of percentage coefficient of variation) were less than 9.3%, with accuracy greater than 94.8%. This method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of pregnenolone and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone secreted into the culture medium of bovine adrenal fasciculata cells and of both analytes produced within the cells., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We recently found that the Japanese red-bellied newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster, actively produces 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, a previously undescribed amphibian neurosteroid. 7alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone stimulates locomotor activity of male newts. Locomotor activity of male newts increases during the breeding period as in other wild animals, but the molecular mechanism for such a change in locomotor activity is poorly understood. Here we show that the adenohypophyseal hormone prolactin (PRL) stimulates 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis in the brain, thus increasing locomotor activity of breeding male newts. In this study, cytochrome P450(7alpha) (CYP7B), a steroidogenic enzyme catalyzing the formation of 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, was first identified to analyze seasonal changes in 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis. Only males exhibited marked seasonal changes in 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis and CYP7B expression in the brain, with a maximum level in the spring breeding period when locomotor activity of males increases. Subsequently we identified PRL as a key component of the mechanism regulating 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis. Hypophysectomy decreased 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis in the male brain, whereas administration of PRL but not gonadotropins to hypophysectomized males caused a dose-dependent increase in 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis. To analyze the mode of PRL action, CYP7B and the receptor for PRL were localized in the male brain. PRL receptor was expressed in the neurons expressing CYP7B in the magnocellular preoptic nucleus. Thus, PRL appears to act directly on neurosteroidogenic magnocellular preoptic nucleus neurons to regulate 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis, thus inducing seasonal locomotor changes in male newts. This is the first report describing the regulation of neurosteroidogenesis in the brain by an adenohypophyseal hormone in any vertebrate.

It is becoming clear that steroids can be synthesized de novo by the brain and other nervous systems. Such steroids are called neurosteroids, and de novo neurosteroidogenesis from cholesterol is a conserved property of vertebrate brains. In this study, we show that the newt brain actively produces 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, a previously undescribed amphibian neurosteroid that stimulates locomotor activity. 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone was identified as a most abundant amphibian neurosteroid in the newt brain by using biochemical techniques combined with HPLC, TLC, and GC-MS analyses. The production of 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone in the diencephalon and rhombencephalon was higher than that in the telencephalon and peripheral steroidogenic glands. In addition, 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone synthesis in the brain showed marked changes during the annual breeding cycle, with a maximal level in the spring breeding period when locomotor activity of the newt increases. Behavioral analysis of newts in the nonbreeding period demonstrated that administration of this previously undescribed amphibian neurosteroid acutely increased locomotor activity. In vitro analysis further revealed that 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone treatment resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the release of dopamine from cultured brain tissue of nonbreeding newts. The effect of this neurosteroid on locomotion also was abolished by dopamine D(2)-like receptor antagonists. These results indicate that 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone acts as a neuronal activator to stimulate locomotor activity of breeding newts through the dopaminergic system. This study demonstrates a physiological function of 7alpha-hydroxypregnenolone that has not been described previously in any vertebrate class. This study also provides findings on the regulatory mechanism of locomotor activity from a unique standpoint.

Neurosteroids may play a major role in the regulation of various neurophysiological and behavioural processes. However, while the biochemical pathways involved in the synthesis of neuroactive steroids in the central nervous system are now elucidated, the mechanisms controlling the activity of neurosteroid-producing cells remain almost completely unknown. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of the octadecaneuropeptide (ODN), an endogenous ligand of benzodiazepine receptors, in the control of steroid biosynthesis in the frog hypothalamus. Glial cells containing ODN-like immunoreactivity were found to send their thick processes in the close vicinity of neurones expressing the steroidogenic enzyme 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Exposure of frog hypothalamic explants to graded concentrations of ODN (10(-10)-10(-5) M) produced a dose-dependent increase in the conversion of tritiated pregnenolone into various radioactive steroids, including 17-hydroxypregnenolone, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and dihydrotestosterone. The ODN-induced stimulation of neurosteroid biosynthesis was mimicked by the central-type benzodiazepine receptor (CBR) inverse agonists methyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCM) and methyl 6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (DMCM). The stimulatory effects of ODN, beta-CCM and DMCM on steroid formation was markedly reduced by the CBR antagonist flumazenil. The ODN-evoked stimulation of neurosteroid production was also significantly attenuated by GABA. Collectively, these data indicate that the endozepine ODN, released by glial cell processes in the vicinity of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-containing neurones, stimulates the biosynthesis of neurosteroids through activation of central-type benzodiazepines receptors.

Background: No reports have yet precisely determined corticotropin (ACTH) responsiveness in virilizing adrenocortical adenoma., Methods: Five women with an androgen-secreting adrenal adenoma were reviewed. Three of them were examined by in vitro steroidogenesis. Two of these 3 patients were studied by immunohistochemistry of steroidogenic enzymes and for the gene expression of ACTH receptor by Northern blot analysis., Results: In preoperative hormonal determinations plasma and urine androgens had increased. Dexamethasone did not suppress plasma and urinary androgens, nor did ACTH increase them. In vitro steroidogenesis revealed that the adenoma cells produced mainly dehydroepiandrosterone and a small amount of testosterone. ACTH did not increase the in vitro production of androgens. In immunohistochemical staining 5 enzymes involved in adrenal steroidogenesis were all expressed, especially 17 alpha-hydroxylase, which was strongly expressed in tumor cells. ACTH receptor messenger RNA was not detected in virilizing tumor tissues, whereas it was expressed in attached adrenal tissues., Conclusions: The lack of response to ACTH is the result of a deficiency of ACTH receptor expression in the virilizing tumor cells. Androgens were autonomously produced in adrenal adenoma cells without ACTH regulation.

A synthesis of (19E)-3 beta,17-dihydroxy-20-oxopregn-5-en-19-al 19-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime (15), is reported. Hydride reduction of ketone 1 gave the (20R)-hydroxy derivative 2 as the main product. Formylation of 2 followed by cleavage of the epoxide ring and mild Jones oxidation afforded aldehyde 6. Oximation with (O-carboxymethyl)hydroxylamine and subsequent methylation yielded methyl ester 8 which was selectively hydrolyzed to alcohol 9 and oxidized to ketone 10. Enolacetylation, epoxidation, and hydrolysis led to the desired 19-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime derivative of 17-hydroxypregnenolone 15.

The covalent coupling of a model steroid, 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, to the wells of the microtiter plate, CovaLink NH, for use in a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is described. This plate has secondary amino groups bound to its surface. A carboxylated derivative of the steroid was coupled to the amino group to form an amide bond in a single step using a water-soluble carbodiimide, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (10 mM) as coupling reagent in the presence of N-hydroxysuccinimide (1 mM). After carrying out a competitive immune reaction, antibodies bound to immobilized steroids were estimated by means of a second antibody-enzyme conjugate. The non-specific background was reduced with blocking agents which did not interfere with the immune reaction between antibodies and the steroids coupled to the plastic surface. The following two procedures were effective for this purpose: pretreatment of wells with 0.01% Tween 20 solution followed by 0.5% bovine serum albumin in phosphate buffered saline, and addition of 0.01% Tween 20 to the assay buffer. With this method, the preparation of steroid-enzyme conjugates is unnecessary and optimization of conditions for ELISA procedures can be achieved in a simple manner.

The activity of steroid 21-sulfatase, the enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of deoxycorticosterone sulfate (DOC-SO4) is demonstrable in human placenta. Thus, it is possible that this placental enzyme, by way of the hydrolysis of either DOC-SO4 or 21-hydroxypregnenolone mono- or di-sulfate of fetal origin, may be important in the biosynthesis of DOC, which is present in the plasma of pregnant women in high concentration. To investigate this issue further, we evaluated steroid 21-sulfatase activity in microsomal preparations of a sulfatase-deficient placenta. Immediately after delivery, at term, of a living male fetus with sulfatase deficiency, a microsome-enriched fraction of placental tissue was prepared; sulfatase activity was evaluated by use of three substrates, viz. dehydroisoandrosterone sulfate (DS), estrone sulfate (E1-SO4), and DOC-SO4, in various concentrations. Similar incubations were conducted with aliquots of a microsome-enriched fraction prepared from placental tissue of a normal fetus that was delivered, at term, within minutes of the time of delivery of the infant with sulfatase deficiency. In microsomal fractions from the normal placenta, each of the steroid sulfates was hydrolyzed. In the absence of microsomes, and in the presence of microsomal fractions from the sulfatase-deficient placenta, the hydrolysis of DOC-SO4 and DS was not detected. Moreover, in microsomes prepared from the sulfatase-deficient placenta, E1-SO4 was hydrolyzed at a rate that was only 10% of that in incubations with microsomal preparations of the normal placenta. We conclude that with sulfatase deficiency, the placenta is deficient not only in sulfatase activity for steroid-3-sulfates but for steroid 21-sulfates, e.g. DOC-SO4, as well.

In pooled amniotic fluid obtained between the 15th and 17th weeks of gestation the concentration of free steroids and steroid glucuronides was found to be 40 micrograms/dl. The concentration of steroid monosulfates and disulfates was 19 micrograms/dl. About half of the characterized steroids are progesterone metabolites. The "fetal type" 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene steroids were found exclusively in the sulfoconjugated form. Their concentration represents 20% of the total steroid content. The identification of two 15 beta-hydroxylated C21 steroids, 3 beta,15 beta,17 alpha-tridoxy-5-pregnen-20-one and 5-pregnene-3 beta,15 beta,17 alpha,20 alpha-tetrol isolated from mid-pregnancy amniotic fluid is reported here. Metabolites of cortisol and 17-deoxycorticosteroid metabolites had similar quantitative importance, 8.6 and 9.4%, respectively.

The outer (glomerulosa and fasciculata) and inner (reticularis) zones of the adrenal cortex of the guinea pig were separated and their steroid content determined. It was found that the concentration of 21-hydroxypregnenolone, deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, aldosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, and cortisol was significantly higher in the outer cortical region, while the concentration of pregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, and dehydroepiandrosterone was significantly higher in the inner zone. The concentration of progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and androstenedione was not different in the two zones. Examination of specific steroid ratios suggested the following: (1) 3 beta-ol dehydrogenase/isomerase and 21-hydroxylase activities are reduced in the inner zone, (2) 17-hydroxylase and C17 20 lyase activities appear to be equally active in the two zones (3) 11 beta-hydroxylase activity appears to be more active in the inner zone (4) 21- hydroxypregnenolone , deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, and cortisol along with aldosterone are produced principally in the outer zone.

As an extension of our studies on the influence of age on testicular function and with the aim of detecting whether the decline in testosterone production by aged testes is accompanied by a block in the biosynthetic chain leading from cholesterol to testosterone, we determined in the testis of young and elderly men, who died suddenly either from a cardiac incident or from accident, intratesticular steroids: pregnenolone, 17 hydroxypregnenolone (3 beta, 17 alpha-dihydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one), dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenediol, (5-androsten-3 beta, 17 beta-diol), progesterone, 17 hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, 17 beta-estradiol as well as testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (5 alpha-androstan-17 beta-ol-3-one) and androstanediol (5 alpha androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol). The intratesticular steroid pattern in elderly men was essentially characterized by a decrease of the 5-ene steroid concentration, whereas we did not observe a decrease in the 4-ene steroids, progesterone concentration being even significantly higher in the aged testes. There was no evidence for a decrease in either lyase or 17-hydroxylase activity. It is suggested that the steroid pattern as observed in the aged testes is the consequence of a decreased oxygen supply, due to a decreased testicular perfusion.

[17-2H]Pregnenolone was incubated with the microsomal fraction of boar testis under an 18O2 atmosphere. The metabolites were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the following six metabolites labeled with 2H or 18O (or both) were identified: 17 alpha-[17-18O]hydroxypregnenolone, [17-18O]dehydroepiandrosterone, 5-[17-18O]androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol, 16 alpha-[16-18O]hydroxy[17-2H]pregnenolone, 5-[17 beta-2H, 17-18O]androstene-3 beta,17 alpha-diol, and 5,16-[17-2H]androstadien-3 beta-ol. The time course of the formation of these metabolites from pregnenolone was also studied using 14C-labeled substrate. The results obtained from these experiments suggest that the first three metabolites were synthesized by a well-documented pathway--pregnenolone yields 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone yields dehydroepiandrosterone yields 5-androstene-3 beta,17 beta-diol--, and that 16 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, 5-androstene-3 beta,17 alpha-diol and 5,16-androstadien-3 beta-ol were synthesized from [17-2H]pregnenolone with retention of 17-2H.