title: Heterogeneity in adrenal steroidogenesis in normal men and women.
abstract: Adrenal steroidogenesis has been studied in vivo in normal men and women. Serum levels of nine steroids on the biosynthetic pathway (the delta 5 3-beta-hydroxysteroids, pregnenolone (Pe), 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone (17Pe), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenediol (Adiol), and their delta 4 3-keto counterparts, progesterone (Po), 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17Po), androstenedione (Adione), and testosterone (T)) as well as cortisol were measured during adrenal suppression and stimulation. This study demonstrates a marked heterogeneity in adrenal steroid responses between different subjects in the normal population. Thus, in three subjects ACTH stimulation from a dexamethasone-suppressed state resulted in a far greater increment of 17Po than in the other nineteen normal subjects. These three individuals (designated Type 2 responders) may have a partial deficiency of 21-hydroxylase activity. In the remaining nineteen subjects (designated as Type 1 responders) the women had a greater increment of Adiol (P less than 0.05) and a lower increment of Po (P less than 0.01) than the men, suggesting that adrenal 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase activity may be slightly lower in women than men.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D003366:Cosyntropin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003366:Cosyntropin; D003907:Dexamethasone