title: Adrenal androgens in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: The adrenal androgens dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS) and androstenedione (A2) are major secretory products of the adrenal gland, although their precise function is unclear. There is limited evidence to suggest adrenal androgen levels may be altered in diabetes, and that insulin secretion may influence these hormones. Therefore we have measured fasting levels of serum DHAS, A2, testosterone, oestradiol (in males only), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), HbA1 and C-peptide (basal and glucose stimulated), in 17 post-pubertal, uncomplicated patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), and made comparisons to 17 of their sex and age-matched (to within 5 yr) non-diabetic siblings. Concentrations of the adrenal androgens were within the laboratory normal range in all the subjects and no differences were noted between the diabetics and their siblings or between males and females. No correlations were noted between the hormones and either HbA1 or C-peptide. In contrast to previous reports we have found that C-peptide status does not influence adrenal androgen levels, and that normal concentrations of these androgens are found in non-ketotic patients with IDDM.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Biochemistry, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Beastall
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: MacCuish
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000735:Androstenedione; D002096:C-Peptide; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004958:Estradiol; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone