Objective: Treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) patients with glucocorticoids is often challenging since there is a delicate balance between over- and undertreatment. Treatment can be monitored non-invasively by measuring salivary androstenedione (A4) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP). Optimal treatment monitoring requires establishment of reference values in saliva.
Design: Descriptive study PATIENTS: For this study saliva of 255 healthy paediatric and adult volunteers with an age range of 4-75 years old was used.
Measurements: We developed a sensitive LC-MS/MS method, assessed salivary A4 and 17-OHP stability and measured A4 and 17-OHP concentrations in saliva collected in the morning, afternoon and evening.
Results: We quantified A4 and 17-OHP concentrations in the morning, afternoon, and evening and demonstrated that there is a significant rhythm with highest levels in the morning and decreasing levels over the day. A4 and 17-OHP concentrations display an age-dependent pattern. These steroids remain stable in saliva at ambient temperature for up to five days.
Conclusions: Good stability of the steroids in saliva enables saliva collection by the patient at home. Since salivary A4 and 17-OHP display a diurnal rhythm and age-dependent pattern, we established reference values for both children and adults at three time points during the day. These reference values support treatment monitoring of children and adults with CAH. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Transgenerational effects of androstadienedione and androstenedione at environmentally relevant concentrations in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Androgens androstadienedione (ADD) and androstenedione (AED) are predominant steroid hormones in surface water, and can disrupt the endocrine system in fish. However, little is known about the transgenerational effects of ADD and AED in fish. In the present study, F0 generation was exposed to ADD and AED from 21 to 144 days post-fertilization (dpf) at nominal concentrations of 5 (L), 50 (M) and 500 (H) ng L-1, and F1 generation was domesticated in clear water for 144 dpf. The sex ratio, histology and transcription in F0 and F1 generations were examined. In the F0 generation, ADD and AED tended to be estrogenic in zebrafish, resulting in female biased zebrafish populations.
In the F1 generation, ADD at the H level caused 63.5% females, while AED at the H level resulted in 78.7% males. In brain, ADD and AED had similar effects on circadian rhythm in the F0 and F1 generations. In the F1 eleutheroembryos, transcriptomic analysis indicated that neuromast hair cell related biological processes (BPs) were overlapped in the ADD and AED groups. Taken together, ADD and AED at environmentally relevant concentrations had transgenerational effects on sex differentiation and transcription in zebrafish.
An isotope dilution LC-MS/MS-based candidate reference method for the quantification of androstenedione in human serum and plasma
- The accurate measurement of androstenedione in human serum and plasma is required for steroid profiling to assure the appropriate diagnosis and differential diagnosis of hyperandrogenism. In this work, we introduce an isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) candidate reference measurement procedure for the quantification of androstenedione in human serum and plasma. The performance of the procedure enables its use in the evaluation and standardization of routine assays and for the evaluation of patient samples to ensure the traceability of individual patient results.
- As the primary standard, a certified reference material from NMIA (National Measurement Institute, Australia) was used. Additionally, a quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) method was developed for the value assignment of the primary reference material, which ensures the direct traceability to SI units, as well as the independence from the availability of reference materials. 13C3-labeled androstenedione was used as the internal standard.
- The introduced method allows the measurement of androstenedione in the range of 0.05-12 ng/mL, and the assay imprecision was found to be <2% between 5 and 12 ng/mL, 3.5% at 1.5 ng/mL, and 5.2% at 0.05 ng/mL, with an accuracy of 95-105% for the serum and 91-103% for the plasma matrix. The transferability to a second laboratory was validated by method comparison based on 112 patient samples. The comparison of the results obtained from the presented method and an LC-MS/MS routine assay, using 150 native patient samples, showed a good correlation with a bias of the routine method of ≤4.0%.
Comparison of Cortisol, Androstenedione and Metanephrines to Assess Selectivity and Lateralization of Adrenal Vein Sampling in Primary Aldosteronism
Success of adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is verified by the selectivity index (SI), i.e., by a step-up of cortisol levels between the adrenal vein and the infrarenal inferior vena cava samples, beyond a given cut-off. We tested the hypothesis that androstenedione, metanephrine, and normetanephrine, which have higher gradients than cortisol, could increase the rate of AVS studies judged to be bilaterally successful and usable for the clinical decision making. We prospectively compared within-patient, head-to-head, the selectivity index of androstenedione (SIA), metanephrine (SIM), and normetanephrine (SINM), and cortisol (SIC) in consecutive hypertensive patients with primary aldosteronism submitted to AVS. Main outcome measures were rate of bilateral success, SI values, and identification of unilateral PA.
We recruited 136 patients (55 + 10 years, 35% women). Compared to the SIC, the SIA values were 3.5-fold higher bilaterally, and the SIM values were 7-fold and 4.4-fold higher on the right and the left side, respectively. With the SIA and the SIM the rate of bilaterally successful AVS increased by 14% and 15%, respectively without impairing the identification of unilateral PA. We concluded that androstenedione and metanephrine outperformed cortisol for ascertaining AVS success, thus increasing the AVS studies useable for the clinical decision making.
Androstenedione (Androstenedione) |
|||
MBS766224-10x96StripWells | MyBiosource | 10x96-Strip-Wells | 3900 EUR |
Androstenedione (Androstenedione) |
|||
MBS766224-48StripWells | MyBiosource | 48-Strip-Wells | 340 EUR |
Androstenedione (Androstenedione) |
|||
MBS766224-5x96StripWells | MyBiosource | 5x96-Strip-Wells | 2045 EUR |
Androstenedione (Androstenedione) |
|||
MBS766224-96StripWells | MyBiosource | 96-Strip-Wells | 455 EUR |
Androstenedione(Androstenedione) ELISA Kit |
|||
EU0254 | FN Test | 96T | 628.92 EUR |
Androstenedione(Androstenedione) ELISA Kit |
|||
EKF58114-48T | Biomatik Corporation | 48T | 396.9 EUR |
Androstenedione(Androstenedione) ELISA Kit |
|||
EKF58114-5x96T | Biomatik Corporation | 5x96T | 2693.25 EUR |
Androstenedione(Androstenedione) ELISA Kit |
|||
EKF58114-96T | Biomatik Corporation | 96T | 567 EUR |
Androstenedione ELISA Kit| General Androstenedione ELISA Kit |
|||
EF019553 | Lifescience Market | 96 Tests | 826.8 EUR |
Androstenedione |
|||
A637550 | Toronto Research Chemicals | 100g | 91 EUR |
Androstenedione |
|||
DE3265 | Demeditec Diagnostics | 96 | 108 EUR |
ANDROSTENEDIONE |
|||
GWB-7631FB | GenWay Biotech | 1x96 Assays | Ask for price |
ANDROSTENEDIONE |
|||
GWB-887AE0 | GenWay Biotech | 1x96 Assays | Ask for price |
Androstenedione |
|||
MBS3611289-10mg | MyBiosource | 10mg | 200 EUR |
Androstenedione |
|||
MBS3611289-5x10mg | MyBiosource | 5x10mg | 580 EUR |
Androstenedione |
|||
MBS340739-10mg | MyBiosource | 10mg | 4030 EUR |
Androstenedione |
|||
MBS340739-1mg | MyBiosource | 1mg | 800 EUR |
Androstenedione |
|||
MBS340739-5x10mg | MyBiosource | 5x10mg | 17955 EUR |
Androstenedione [BSA] |
|||
DAGA-133B | Creative Diagnostics | 1 mg | 1249.5 EUR |
Androstenedione [HRP] |
|||
DAGA-133H | Creative Diagnostics | 1 mL | 1050 EUR |
Androstenedione (BSA) |
|||
abx165637-100g | Abbexa | 100 µg | 1850 EUR |
Androstenedione (BSA) |
|||
20-abx165637 | Abbexa |
|
|
Androstenedione (a Natural Steroid and a Drug Supplement): A Comprehensive Review of Its Consumption, Metabolism, Health Effects, and Toxicity with Sex Differences
Androstenedione is a steroidal hormone produced in male and female gonads, as well as in the adrenal glands, and it is known for its key role in the production of estrogen and testosterone. Androstenedione is also sold as an oral supplement, that is being utilized to increase testosterone levels. Simply known as “andro” by athletes, it is commonly touted as a natural alternative to anabolic steroids. By boosting testosterone levels, it is thought to be an enhancer for athletic performance, build body muscles, reduce fats, increase energy, maintain healthy RBCs, and increase sexual performance.
Nevertheless, several of these effects are not yet scientifically proven. Though commonly used as a supplement for body building, it is listed among performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) which is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, as well as the International Olympic Committee. This review focuses on the action mechanism behind androstenedione’s health effects, and further side effects including clinical features, populations at risk, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and toxicokinetics. A review of androstenedione regulation in drug doping is also presented.