title: 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione in peripheral plasma of men and women.
abstract: An antibody to androstanedione obtained in a rabbit by immunization with androstenedione-7 alpha-carboxymethyl-thioether conjugated to bovine serum albumin was found to cross-react 100% with 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione, a property that was used to develop a radioimmunoassay for this steroid. Plasma 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione concentrations were determined in young men, and in women throughout an ovulatory cycle. In the men (n = 6), plasma 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione concentrations were in the range of 84 to 273 pg/ml with a mean (+/- SD) value of 164 +/- 57 pg/ml. The plasma levels in the women (n = 5) were in the ranges of 35 +/- 14 to 145 +/- 75 pg/ml during the follicular phase, and 109 +/- 50 to 151 +/- 44 pg/ml during the luteal phase. The tissue sites of origin of 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione have not been defined, however, some extraglandular tissues are known to contain enzymes that convert C19-steroids to 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione. It is possible that 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione in circulation serves as a substrate for peripheral synthesis of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 7523.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Milewich
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Gomez-Sanchez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005043:Etiocholanolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: C006576:androstane-3,17-dione; D005043:Etiocholanolone