Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 2002, 67, 10-18
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc20020010

Detection and Quantification of 7-Hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone Epimers in Three Body Fluids

Richard Hampl*, Martin Hill and Luboslav Stárka

Institute of Endocrinology, 116 94 Prague 1, Czech Republic

Abstract

3β,7α-Dihydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one (1) (7α-OH-DHEA) and its 7β-hydroxy epimer 2 (7β-OH-DHEA) - 7α- and 7β-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone - were detected and quantified in three human body fluids: in blood serum, saliva and ejaculate. Specific radioimmunoassay and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry have been used. For the first time the data on changes of these dehydroepiandrosterone metabolites are reported for a representative group of healthy subjects of both sexes (172 females and 217 males) during the life span. The serum levels of both 7-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone epimers in serum and also in semen were in the low nanomolar range, while concentrations by one order of magnitude lower were found in saliva, but still within the detection limit. The results will serve as a basis for comparative studies of 7-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone levels under various pathophysiological conditions, with a particular respect to autoimmune disorders.

Keywords: Steroids; Hormones; Metabolites; Radioimmunoassay; GC-MS; Blood; Saliva; Semen; 7-Hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone.

References: 21 live references.