title: Formation of sex hormone transients resulting from attack of free radicals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transients of the sex hormones testosterone (TES) and estrone (E1) exhibit an impact on the carcinogenesis of most prostate and breast cancer types. For elucidation of involved reaction mechanisms, in vitro, experiments using γ-ray for generation of attacking hormone transients and UV-light (λ=254 nm) for excitation of hormone molecules were applied. Materials and Methods. Experiments in vitro (Escherichia coli AB1157) incubated with TES and E1, individually as well as in mixture with vitamin C (electron donor), were performed under γ-irradiation in water-alcohol (40/60) medium for clarifying-up the reaction mechanism. The hormone degradation/regeneration processes were studied by high performance liquid chromatography analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independently of hormone molecular structure, the determining factor for the biological properties, such as carcinogenity, were found to be based on the hormone transients. The biological ability of these, however, depends on the chemical properties of the species attacking the corresponding hormone. Hormone degradation can be, at least partly, converted into hormone regeneration by electron transfer from an electron donor (e.g. vitamin C), when available during the period of status nascendi of the hormone radicals.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Biology Section, Department for Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, UZA II, Vienna, Austria. nikola.getoff@univie.ac.at
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Getoff
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schittl
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerschpacher
authors.forename: Ruth Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Quint
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004970:Estrone / Q000378:metabolism*; D005609:Free Radicals; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D001205:Ascorbic Acid