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Chimote BN, Chimote NM. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) concentrations stringently regulate fertilisation, embryo development and IVF outcomes: are we looking at a potentially compelling 'oocyte-related factor' in oocyte activation? J Assist Reprod Genet 2020; 38:193-202. [PMID: 33161515 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-020-02001-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bindu N Chimote
- IVF Embryology Laboratory, Vaunshdhara Fertility Centre, 9, Dr. Munje Marg, Congress Nagar, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Natachandra M Chimote
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Vaunshdhara Fertility Centre, 9, Dr. Munje Marg, Congress Nagar, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
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Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-SO4 of adrenal origin is the major C19 steroid in the serum. It is a precursor of intratumoral androgen biosynthesis in patients with advanced prostate cancer following chemical or surgical castration. DHEA is a product of the P450c17 (17α-hydroxylase-17,20-lyase) enzyme. Despite inhibition of P450c17 with new agents, e.g., Abiraterone acetate, Orterenol, and Galeterone, the level of enzyme inhibition rarely exceeds 90% leaving behind a significant depot for androgen biosynthesis within the tumor. For DHEA-SO4 to be utilized there is uptake by organic anion transporter polypeptides, deconjugation catalyzed by steroid sulfatase, and adaptive upregulation of prostate steroidogenic enzymes that will convert DHEA into either testosterone or dihydrotestosterone. The depot of DHEA-SO4 that remains after P450c17 inhibition and the adaptive responses that occur within the tumor to promote DHEA utilization contribute to mechanisms of drug resistance observed with P450c17 inhibitors. Knowledge of these mechanisms identify new targets for therapeutics that could be used to surmount drug resistance in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor M Penning
- Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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Tsai MH, Huang HC, Peng YS, Chen YC, Tian YC, Yang CW, Lien JM, Fang JT, Wu CS, Hsieh SY, Lee FY. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate/cortisol ratio in cirrhotic patients with septic shock: another sign of hepatoadrenal syndrome? Crit Care 2017; 21:214. [PMID: 28810889 PMCID: PMC5557480 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-017-1768-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cirrhotic patients are susceptible to sepsis and critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is a corticotropin-dependent adrenal androgen, which has immunostimulating and antiglucocorticoid effects. Considering the synchronized synthesis of cortisol and DHEAS and their opposing effects to each other, investigators have proposed measuring these two hormones as a ratio. Severe sepsis has been associated with low DHEAS, especially relative to high cortisol. Despite growing interest in the role of adrenal androgen replacement in critical illness, there have been no data about DHEAS and the DHEAS/cortisol ratio in patients with liver cirrhosis. We studied whether low concentrations of DHEAS and decreased DHEAS/cortisol ratio are associated with poor outcome in patients with liver cirrhosis and septic shock. METHODS We recruited 46 cirrhotic patients with septic shock, and 46 noncirrhotic counterparts matched by age and sex. We evaluated adrenal function using the short corticotropin stimulation test and analyzed the relation between DHEAS and cortisol. RESULTS While the nonsurvivors in the cirrhotic group had significantly lower baseline DHEAS, lower baseline DHEAS/cortisol ratio, and reduced increments of both DHEAS and cortisol upon corticotropin stimulation, the survivors had lower baseline cortisol. Cirrhotic patients with lower DHEAS/cortisol ratio (<1.50) had higher levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores, and higher rates of CIRCI and hospital mortality. Using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve, both DHEAS and the DHEAS/cortisol ratio demonstrated a good discriminative power for predicting hospital survival (AUROC 0.807 and 0.925 respectively). The cirrhotic group had lower DHEAS and DHEAS/cortisol ratio but higher rates of CIRCI and hospital mortality, compared to the noncirrhotic group. CONCLUSIONS There is dissociation between cortisol (increased) and DHEAS (decreased) in those cirrhotic patients who succumb to septic shock. Low DHEAS/cortisol ratios are associated with more severe diseases, inflammation, and CIRCI and can serve as a prognostic marker. More investigations are needed to evaluate the role of adrenal androgen in this clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hung Tsai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Chun Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veteran General Hospital, No. 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, 11217 Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veteran General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Shing Peng
- Division of Endocrinology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Chang Chen
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Critical Care Nephrology, Kidney Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Chung Tian
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Critical Care Nephrology, Kidney Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wei Yang
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Critical Care Nephrology, Kidney Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jau-Min Lien
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ji-Tseng Fang
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Critical Care Nephrology, Kidney Institute, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Shyong Wu
- Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Sen-Yung Hsieh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Fa-Yauh Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veteran General Hospital, No. 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, 11217 Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
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Su TC, Lin SH, Lee PT, Yeh SH, Hsieh TH, Chou SY, Su TP, Hung JJ, Chang WC, Lee YC, Chuang JY. The sigma-1 receptor-zinc finger protein 179 pathway protects against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell injury. Neuropharmacology 2016; 105:1-9. [PMID: 26792191 PMCID: PMC5520630 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Revised: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have implicated the pathogenesis of several human diseases including neurodegenerative disorders, stroke, and traumatic brain injury, hence protecting neurons against ROS is very important. In this study, we focused on sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R), a chaperone at endoplasmic reticulum, and investigated its protective functions. Using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced ROS accumulation model, we verified that apoptosis-signaling pathways were elicited by H2O2 treatment. However, the Sig-1R agonists, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), reduced the activation of apoptotic pathways significantly. By performing protein-protein interaction assays and shRNA knockdown of Sig-1R, we identified the brain Zinc finger protein 179 (Znf179) as a downstream target of Sig-1R regulation. The neuroprotective effect of Znf179 overexpression was similar to that of DHEAS treatment, and likely mediated by affecting the levels of antioxidant enzymes. We also quantified the levels of peroxiredoxin 3 (Prx3) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) in the hippocampi of wild-type and Znf179 knockout mice, and found both enzymes to be reduced in the knockout versus the wild-type mice. In summary, these results reveal that Znf179 plays a novel role in neuroprotection, and Sig-1R agonists may be therapeutic candidates to prevent ROS-induced damage in neurodegenerative and neurotraumatic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Chieh Su
- Graduate Institute of Medical Science, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Hui Lin
- Graduate Institute of Medical Science, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Neural Regenerative Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
| | - Pin-Tse Lee
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan; Cellular Pathobiology Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, USA
| | - Shiu-Hwa Yeh
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hsun Hsieh
- Graduate Institute of Neural Regenerative Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Yi Chou
- Graduate Institute of Neural Regenerative Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Ping Su
- Cellular Pathobiology Section, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, USA
| | - Jan-Jong Hung
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Biosignal Transduction, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chang Chang
- Graduate Institute of Medical Science, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan; Center for Neurotrauma and Neuroregeneration, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chao Lee
- Graduate Institute of Neural Regenerative Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan; Center for Neurotrauma and Neuroregeneration, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
| | - Jian-Ying Chuang
- Graduate Institute of Neural Regenerative Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan; Center for Neurotrauma and Neuroregeneration, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with a risk of adverse outcomes such as physical disability, poor quality of life, and death. Sarcopenia is a multifactorial process involving the decline of androgens, including dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and testosterone. The aim of this review is to highlight the effects of DHEAS and testosterone treatment to counteract sarcopenia, especially in older men. RECENT FINDINGS DHEAS and, more importantly, testosterone treatment are associated with increased muscle mass, whereas the effects on muscle function and physical performance are less clear. The results of recent randomized placebo controlled trials with DHEAS in older men and women and testosterone in men with mobility limitation are discussed. The novel current and future scenarios to attenuate the detrimental effects and to optimize the efficacy of sex hormone treatment are also addressed. SUMMARY DHEAS and testosterone are important options in the armamentarium of sarcopenia treatment in older men. Future studies are needed to address new approaches by using selective compounds, targeting the correct form and dosage, tailoring the correct patient to treat, and taking into account the multifactorial origin and the new definition of sarcopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Maggio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Geriatrics, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
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Gómez-Santos C, Hernández-Morante JJ, Tébar FJ, Granero E, Garaulet M. Differential effect of oral dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate on metabolic syndrome features in pre- and postmenopausal obese women. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2012; 77:548-54. [PMID: 22136516 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2011.04306.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze the effect in obese pre- and postmenopausal women of a daily dose of 100 mg dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) provided over a period of 3 months as replacement therapy against metabolic syndrome. CONTEXT Although DHEA-S appears to be effective against certain features of metabolic syndrome, its usefulness against this syndrome as a whole has not been evaluated to date. DESIGN/PATIENTS A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted involving 61 postmenopausal women, who received DHEA-S (n = 41) or placebo (n = 20) for 3 months. The effect of DHEA-S treatment on the same postmenopausal women was compared with the effects observed in a group of premenopausal women (n = 20). MEASUREMENTS Anthropometric measurements were taken at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. Similarly, different parameters that define metabolic syndrome and other cardiometabolic variables were determined. RESULTS Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate replacement produced weight loss in the obese women studied. Moreover, waist circumference, glucose and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, among other metabolic syndrome parameters, improved in the postmenopausal group, who showed a significant reduction in the total metabolic syndrome score (P < 0·05). In contrast, in premenopausal women, the effect of DHEA-S was limited to obesity parameters, and no effect was observed on metabolic syndrome components. No significant changes were evident in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS An oral dose of DHEA-S is useful for weight loss. In obese postmenopausal women, the hormone significantly improves plasma biochemical levels and anthropometric characteristics, leading to a better metabolic profile, which highlights the usefulness of this therapy against metabolic syndrome in this group of women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Gómez-Santos
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Semenova OG, Rakitskaia VV, Pivina SG, Ordian NE. [The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate on stress behavior in high- and low-anxiety rats]. Ross Fiziol Zh Im I M Sechenova 2012; 98:862-870. [PMID: 23074834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We studied the effect of preliminary three-fold administration of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) on behavioral disturbance, induced by water-immobilization stress in high- and low-anxiety active rats. Active rats were selected from Wistar rats on the basis of T-maze testing. Active rats were then divided into the groups with high and low anxiety level after testing in elevated plus maze. We found that DHEA-S injections (3 mg/100 g, i.p.) had an anti-stress-like effect, as shown by a decrease stress corticosterone level in both groups of rats. DHEA-S also demonstrated an anxiolytic-like effects in high anxiety rats and anxiogenic-like effects in low anxiety rats. These results suggest that DHEA-S anxiolytic and anti-stress effects depend on the individual psycho-emotional status and baseline anxiety level.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are known to decline with age. In an era of increasing use of supplements to better life, the benefits of DHEA in the aging female population are controversial. The goal of this article is to critically review published studies to determine if there is a role for DHEA supplementation in postmenopausal women. RECENT FINDINGS Daily administration of oral DHEA achieves serum concentrations similar to those of women in their 20s. Several observational studies have shown that lower DHEA levels are associated with increased cardiovascular risk in women; however, interventional trials show no improvement in atherosclerosis or cardiovascular risk factors, and a lowering of HDL cholesterol levels. DHEA supplementation modestly increases bone mineral density in conjunction with adjuvant therapies and improves cognition in those with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment, but does not affect cognition in unimpaired women. Use of intravaginal DHEA, but not oral DHEA, alleviates vaginal atrophy and improves sexual function in postmenopausal women. SUMMARY On the basis of current evidence, there is no role for oral DHEA supplementation in healthy, postmenopausal women. Where benefits have been shown, long-term studies are needed to confirm these benefits and verify the safety profile of DHEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachna M Goel
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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Luppi C, Fioravanti M, Bertolini B, Inguscio M, Grugnetti A, Guerriero F, Rovelli C, Cantoni F, Guagnano P, Marazzi E, Rolfo E, Ghianda D, Levante D, Guerrini C, Bonacasa R, Solerte SB. Growth factors decrease in subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD): potential correction with dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS). Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2010; 49 Suppl 1:173-84. [PMID: 19836631 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2009.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The integrity of neuroprotection is an important component against the development of cognitive disorders and AD. Within this context, DHEAS would seem to have some positive metabolic and endocrine effects to delay brain aging by recovering the impairment of neuroprotective growth factors. In the present study we measured by ELISA the secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1) in the supernatants of cultured circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from which natural killer cells (NK) were separated (PBMC-NK) (pg/ml/7.75x10(6) cells) in healthy subjects and in age-matched patients with mild to moderate AD. The growth factors were measured in spontaneous conditions and after stimulation with growth hormone (GH) 1 microg/ml (IGF-1), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 1 microg/ml (VEGF) and glucose 10 microM (TGF(beta1). AD group demonstrated at baseline a severe reduction of IGF-1 (3.7+1.2 pg/ml after GH), VEGF (63+/-18 pg/ml spontaneous and 210+/-65 pg/ml after LPS) and TGF(beta1 (33+/-10 pg/ml spontaneous and 75+/-12 pg/ml after glucose) secretions compared to healthy elderly subjects (IGF-1, 9.5+/-2.8 pg/ml after GH, p<0.001; VEGF, 117+/-38 pg/ml spontaneous, p<0.001 and 690+/-120 pg/ml after LPS, p<0.001; and TGF(beta1, 73+/-21 pg/ml spontaneous, p<0.001 and 169+/-53 pg/ml after glucose, p<0.001). Significant positive correlations between IGF-1 and VEGF concentrations were found both in healthy subjects (r=0.87, p<0.001) and in AD subjects (r=0.87, p<0.001). The co-incubation of NK cells with DHEAS (10(6) M/ml/cells) significantly increase IGF-1, VEGF and TGF (beta1 production, reaching in AD group the normal concentrations found in healthy subjects (IGF-1, 7.9 + 2.4 pg/ml after GH; VEGF, 105+/-31 pg/ml spontaneous and 670+/-112 pg/ml after LPS; and TGFfbeta1, 68+/-18 pg/ml spontaneous and 155+/-48 pg/ml after glucose). These data suggested that DHEAS is able to increase the immunoendocrine production of neuroprotective growth factors, which is reduced in AD subjects, so suggesting a new approach in the treatment of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Luppi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Geriatrics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Yoon SY, Roh DH, Seo HS, Kang SY, Han HJ, Beitz AJ, Lee JH. Intrathecal injection of the neurosteroid, DHEAS, produces mechanical allodynia in mice: involvement of spinal sigma-1 and GABA receptors. Br J Pharmacol 2009; 157:666-73. [PMID: 19422393 PMCID: PMC2707978 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2009.00197.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2008] [Revised: 01/14/2009] [Accepted: 01/19/2009] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The neurosteroid, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and its non-sulphated form, DHEA, are considered as crucial endogenous modulators of a number of important physiological events. Evidence suggests that DHEAS and DHEA modulate central nervous system-related functions by activating sigma-1 receptors and/or allosterically inhibiting gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor type A (GABA(A)) receptors. As both the sigma-1 receptor and the GABA(A) receptor play important roles in spinal pain transmission, the present study was designed to examine whether intrathecally injected DHEAS or DHEA affect nociceptive signalling at the spinal cord level. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We first determined whether intrathecal (i.t.) DHEA or DHEAS injection was able to affect nociceptive thresholds to peripheral mechanical stimulation and subsequently examined whether this effect was mediated by sigma-1 or the GABA(A) receptors. KEY RESULTS The i.t. DHEAS injection dose-dependently decreased the nociceptive threshold to mechanical stimulation, thus producing mechanical allodynia. Moreover, this DHEAS-induced mechanical allodynia was significantly reduced by administration of the sigma-1 receptor antagonist, BD-1047 or the GABA(A) receptor agonist, muscimol. Conversely, i.t. DHEA had no effect on mechanical sensitivity. However, when i.t. DHEA was combined with the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline, DHEA dose-dependently produced mechanical allodynia similar to that of DHEAS. This effect was blocked by BD-1047 and by muscimol. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These findings indicate that i.t. injection of DHEAS produces mechanical allodynia and that the development of this mechanical allodynia is mediated by sigma-1 and GABA(A) receptors. The findings of this study raise several interesting questions for further investigations into the mechanisms underlying neurosteroid modulation of spinal pain transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seo-Yeon Yoon
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National UniversitySeoul, South Korea
| | - Dae-Hyun Roh
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National UniversitySeoul, South Korea
| | - Hyoung-Sig Seo
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National UniversitySeoul, South Korea
| | - Suk-Yun Kang
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National UniversitySeoul, South Korea
| | - Ho-Jae Han
- Biotherapy Human Resources Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National UniversityGwangju, South Korea
| | - Alvin J Beitz
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of MinnesotaSt Paul, MN, USA
| | - Jang-Hern Lee
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National UniversitySeoul, South Korea
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Jankowski CM, Gozansky WS, Kittelson JM, Van Pelt RE, Schwartz RS, Kohrt WM. Increases in bone mineral density in response to oral dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in older adults appear to be mediated by serum estrogens. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008; 93:4767-73. [PMID: 18812486 PMCID: PMC2626446 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2007-2614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The mechanisms by which dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) replacement increases bone mineral density (BMD) in older adults are not known. OBJECTIVE The aims were to determine the effects of DHEA therapy on changes in sex hormones and IGF-I and their associations with changes in BMD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at an academic research institution. Participants were 58 women and 61 men, aged 60-88 yr, with low serum DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) levels. INTERVENTION The intervention was oral DHEA 50 mg/d or placebo for 12 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES BMD and serum DHEAS, testosterone, estradiol (E(2)), estrone (E(1)), SHBG, IGF-I, and IGF binding protein 3 were measured before and after intervention. Free testosterone and estrogen (FEI) indices were calculated. RESULTS The average changes in hip and spine BMD (DHEA vs. placebo) ranged from 1.1 to 1.6%. Compared with placebo, DHEA replacement increased serum DHEAS, testosterone, free testosterone index, E(1), E(2), FEI, and IGF-I (all P < 0.001) and decreased SHBG (P = 0.02) in women and, in men, increased DHEAS, E(1), FEI (all P < 0.001), and E(2) (P = 0.02) and decreased SHBG (P = 0.037). The changes in total and regional hip BMD were associated with 12-month E(2) (all P <or= 0.001) and FEI (all P <or= 0.013). The effects of DHEA treatment were eliminated by adjustment for 12-month E(2). CONCLUSIONS The significant increases in hip BMD in older adults undergoing DHEA replacement were mediated primarily by increases in serum E(2) rather than direct effects of DHEAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M Jankowski
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, mail stop B179, Room 8111, 12631 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
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Dhatariya K. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate has not been substantiated as an anabolic hormone. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168:1470; author reply 1470. [PMID: 18625932 DOI: 10.1001/archinte.168.13.1470-a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
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Lu JF, Barron-Casella E, Deering R, Heinzer AK, Moser AB, deMesy Bentley KL, Wand GS, C McGuinness M, Pei Z, Watkins PA, Pujol A, Smith KD, Powers JM. The role of peroxisomal ABC transporters in the mouse adrenal gland: the loss of Abcd2 (ALDR), Not Abcd1 (ALD), causes oxidative damage. J Transl Med 2007; 87:261-72. [PMID: 17260006 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.3700512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
X-linked adreno-leukodystrophy is a progressive, systemic peroxisomal disorder that primarily affects the adrenal cortex, as well as myelin and axons of the central nervous system. Marked phenotypic heterogeneity does not correlate with disease-causing mutations in ABCD1, which encodes a peroxisomal membrane protein that is a member of the ABC transmembrane transporter proteins. The precise physiological functions of ABCD1 and ABCD2, a closely related peroxisomal membrane half-transporter, are unknown. The abcd1 knockout mouse does not develop the inflammatory demyelination so typical and devastating in adreno-leukodystrophy, but it does display the same lamellae and lipid profiles in adrenocortical cells under the electron microscope as the human patients. The adrenocortical cells in the mouse also exhibit immunohistochemical evidence of oxidative stress at 12 weeks but no evidence of oxidative damage. To better understand the pathogenesis of this complex disease, we evaluate the adrenal lesion of the abcd1 knockout mouse as a function of normal aging, dietary or therapeutic manipulations, and abcd genotype. The loss of abcd2 causes oxidative stress in the adrenal at 12 weeks, as judged by increased immunoreactivity for the mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase, in both the inner cortex and medulla. The loss of abcd2 (n=20), but not abcd1 (n=27), results in the spontaneous and premature deposition of ceroid, a known end-product of oxidative damage, predominantly in adrenal medullary cells. These data indicate that the loss of abcd2 results in greater oxidative stress in murine adrenal cells than the loss of abcd1, providing a clue to its cellular function. We also find that the adrenocortical lesion of the abcd1 knockout mouse does not produce functional impairment at ten to nineteen months or overt hypocortisolism at any age, nor does it progress histologically; these and other data align this mouse model closer to human female heterozygotes than to male ALD or AMN hemizygotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyh-Feng Lu
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Chen L, Miyamoto Y, Furuya K, Dai XN, Mori N, Sokabe M. Chronic DHEAS administration facilitates hippocampal long-term potentiation via an amplification of Src-dependent NMDA receptor signaling. Neuropharmacology 2006; 51:659-70. [PMID: 16806295 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2006.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2005] [Revised: 04/19/2006] [Accepted: 05/11/2006] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) has well characterized effects on memory and cognitive performances. Recently we have reported that repetitive administration of DHEAS lowers the threshold pulse number in inducing activity-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) in rat hippocampal Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses, in which a sub-threshold high frequency stimulation (HFS, 30 pulses at 100 Hz) for normal rats could induce robust LTP in DHEAS-treated rats (Chen et al., 2006). Here we report that the sub-threshold HFS could trigger the phosphorylation of Src and ERK2 in the DHEAS-treated rats, but not in control rats. We found in slices obtained from the DHEAS-treated rats that NMDA-induced intracellular Ca2+([Ca2+]i) transients in CA1 pyramidal neurons were significantly potentiated, which was essential for the Src and ERK2 phosphorylations. The activation of ERK2, a downstream factor of Src family kinase, was required for the DHEAS-facilitated LTP. The Src family kinase inhibitor PP2, but not its inactive homologue PP3, attenuated the NMDA-induced [Ca2+]i increase and abolished the DHEAS-facilitated LTP. These findings suggest that the chronic administration of DHEAS brings the NMDA receptor (NMDAr) to a potentiated state that causes an enough level of [Ca2+]i increase for LTP induction even by the sub-threshold HFS. The potentiated [Ca2+]i transient by the sub-threshold HFS may trigger the Src phosphorylation that will further potentiate NMDAr followed by an activation of ERK2 and LTP induction. This novel postsynaptic NMDAr/Src-mediated signal amplification through "NMDAr-Ca2+-->Src-->NMDAr-Ca2+" cycle may play a pivotal role in the DHEAS-facilitated LTP induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chen
- Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
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16
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Lür G, Rákos G, Juhász-Vedres G, Farkas T, Kis Z, Toldi J. Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate on the Evoked Cortical Activity of Controls and of Brain-Injured Rats. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2006; 26:1505-19. [PMID: 16758322 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-006-9073-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2005] [Accepted: 04/19/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
1. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEAS) are sex hormone precursors which exert marked neurotrophic and/or neuroprotective activity in the central nervous system (CNS). 2. In the present electrophysiological experiments, we studied the effects of peripherally administered DHEAS on responses of the primary somatosensory (SSI) and motor cortices (MI) of (i) anesthetized controls and (ii) MI focal cold-lesioned rats. (iii) The effects of DHEAS on the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) were also studied in vitro brain slices. DHEAS (50 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously 12 h before and immediately after cold lesion induction. The anesthetized rats were fixed in a stereotaxic frame, the SSI and MI were exposed, and control SSI and MI responses were evoked by contralateral whisker pad stimulation. After registration of the evoked responses for a 35-min period, a copper cylinder (2 mm in diameter) cooled with a mixture of acetone and dry ice (-78 degrees C) was applied to produce a lesion in the MI and the registration of the evoked responses was then continued for an additional 360 min. 3. In the controls, DHEAS administration resulted in slight increases in amplitude of both the SSI and the MI responses. After focal cold lesion induction, the most significant reduction in amplitude was observed at the focus of the lesion in the primary MI, but the amplitudes of the SSI responses were also decreased. After 3-5 h of lesion induction, the amplitudes started to increase around the injury in the primary MI, while the SSI response had already started to recover 2 h after induction of the MI lesion. In the course of the postlesion recovery period, the MI responses peripherally to the center of the lesion frequently exhibited extremely high and low amplitudes. The paired-pulse paradigm revealed changing, but basically high levels of disinhibition and facilitation in extended cortical areas after focal cortical cold lesion induction. The deviations (e.g., the extremely augmented responses) in cortical functioning of the anesthetized rats were unambiguously diminished by DHEAS administration, and the period required for the cortical responses to recover was significantly shorter after the steroid treatment. In the in vitro studies, however, DHEAS administration resulted in an enhanced level of disinhibition in extended cortical areas of both the hemispheres. 4. This observation draws attention to the possible differences between the results obtained in different models (in vitro vs. in situ). Nevertheless, all the presented data suggest that DHEAS treatment might have neuroprotective effect on the neocortex at least at a short-time scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- György Lür
- Department of Comparative Physiology, University of Szeged, P.O.B. 533, H-6701, Szeged, Hungary
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17
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Abstract
In male rats exposed to repeated stress, the decrease in stress reactivity produced by subcutaneous injection of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (recorded by the decrease in stress-induced concentrations of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone in blood plasma) was observed 1-6 days postinjection and involved central regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- T A Obut
- Institute of Physiology, Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Novosibirsk.
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18
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Abstract
Previous work has suggested that DHEA supplementation may have adverse cognitive effects in elderly women. This article analyzed 24-h measurements of DHEA, DHEAS, and cortisol to determine if cognitive decrease with treatment is mediated by DHEA's impact on endogenous cortisol. It was found that DHEA administration increased cortisol at several hours during the day. In the treatment group, cortisol was positively associated with cognition at study completion. An increase in negative associations between DHEA(S) levels and cognition was found at completion. Increased cortisol does not explain the cognitive deficits associated with DHEA, suggesting a direct negative effect of exogenous DHEA on cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- T D Parsons
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7025, USA. tparsons@neurology
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Gelinas DS, McLaurin J. PPAR-alpha expression inversely correlates with inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in aging rats. Neurochem Res 2006; 30:1369-75. [PMID: 16341933 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-005-8341-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/01/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) was given the name "fountain of youth" in reference to its beneficial properties in memory, cognition and aging. Cultured cell studies showed that DHEAS may mediate its action by counteracting aging-associated inflammation via PPAR-alpha activation. In the present study, we demonstrated an age-dependent increase in IL-1beta and TNF-alpha expression in the brain and the spleen of aging rats, while PPAR-alpha expression was decreased in the spleen of 18 month-old rats. Oral treatment with DHEAS increased PPAR-alpha mRNA in 3 month-old rats and decreased PPAR-alpha protein expression in 18 month-old rats in the spleen. In contrast, DHEAS did not alter cytokine expression in spleen and brain of the three age groups. These findings underline a differential role for DHEAS in PPAR-alpha expression that is age-dependent, and also, that beneficial effects of DHEAS on cognitive function are unlikely mediated by a decrease in cytokine expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Gelinas
- Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Tanz Neuroscience Building, 6 Queen's Park Crescent West, Toronto, Ontario, M5S3H2, Canada.
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Chen L, Dai XN, Sokabe M. Chronic administration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) primes for facilitated induction of long-term potentiation via sigma 1 (sigma1) receptor: optical imaging study in rat hippocampal slices. Neuropharmacology 2005; 50:380-92. [PMID: 16364377 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2005.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2005] [Revised: 09/20/2005] [Accepted: 10/18/2005] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), one of the most abundant neurosteroids synthesized de novo in the nervous system, has well characterized effects on memory and cognitive performances. However, little is known about the underlying synaptic mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic administration of DHEAS (20 mg/kg for 7 days) on the plasticity of Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses by applying an optical recording technique on the hippocampal slices stained with voltage-sensitive dyes. We report here that chronically administered DHEAS significantly facilitated the induction of frequency-dependent LTP, termed DHEAS-facilitated LTP. While tetanus of at least 50 pulses (at 100 Hz) were required to induce LTP in control rats, only 20 pulses were needed in DHEAS-treated animals. In contrast DHEA, the non-sulfated form of DHEAS, had no facilitating effect on the induction of LTP. We found that chronically administered DHEAS did not alter the presynaptic glutamate release in response to both single pulse and tetanic stimulation, suggesting that certain alterations happened in postsynaptic neurons. Co-administration of the sigma 1 (sigma1) receptor antagonists, haloperidol or NE100, with DHEAS completely inhibited the DHEAS-facilitated LTP. However, acute administration of sigma1 receptor antagonists to the slices did not affect the induction of DHEAS-facilitated LTP, suggesting that sigma1 receptor is a key target of chronic actions of DHEAS but is not involved in the induction of DHEAS-facilitated LTP. Our findings provide evidence that chronically administered DHEAS plays a priming role in inducing a facilitated synaptic plasticity probably via a chronic activation of sigma1 receptor in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chen
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong-road, Nanjing 210029, China
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21
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Bucolo C, Drago F. Effects of neurosteroids on ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat retina: role of sigma1 recognition sites. Eur J Pharmacol 2005; 498:111-4. [PMID: 15363983 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.06.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2004] [Accepted: 06/17/2004] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The effects of neurosteroids, 17beta-estradiol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), were investigated on retinal degeneration using a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion injury. The animals were anaesthetized and retinal ischemia was induced by elevating the intraocular pressure to 120 mm Hg for 45 min. Neurosteroids were injected intraperitoneally before ischemia and immediately after reperfusion. Retinal biochemical changes such as increase of lactate content and decrease of glucose and ATP were significantly inhibited by neurosteroids compared to the control ischemic group. The effects of 17beta-estradiol and DHEA-S were antagonized by pre-treatment with the sigma1 site antagonist. These findings suggest that 17beta-estradiol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate may affect the metabolic state of surviving neurons and glial cells after ischemic injury and that they act, at least in part, through involvement of sigma1 recognition sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Bucolo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, Catania I-95125, Italy
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22
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Perrini S, Laviola L, Natalicchio A, Giorgino F. Associated hormonal declines in aging: DHEAS. J Endocrinol Invest 2005; 28:85-93. [PMID: 16042365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
DHEA and its sulfate prohormone DHEAS are the most abundant circulating adrenal steroid hormones in humans. DHEA exerts its actions on peripheral target tissues either indirectly, following its conversion to androgens, estrogens or both, or directly, as a steroid hormone interacting with either a nuclear or a membrane receptor. In humans, DHEA shows a characteristic pattern of secretion throughout life. Serum DHEA concentrations decline with advancing age and vary with gender, ethnicity, and environmental factors. Epidemiological studies show an inverse relationship between plasma DHEA(S) levels in men and age-related illnesses, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, immune disorders, malignancies, and neurological dysfunction. This has generated great interest on the putative role of DHEA in age-associated illnesses. Administration of DHEA to rats and mice reduces visceral fat accumulation, and improves insulin resistance in experimental models of diet-induced obesity and/or Type 2 diabetes. In addition, recent studies in vitro have shown that DHEA has the capacity to improve endothelial function by increasing nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. Replacement of DHEA in patients with adrenal insufficiency has been shown to exert beneficial effects on well-being, mood, and sexuality. By contrast, in healthy individuals, the physiological age-associated decline in circulating DHEA(S) per se does not justify DHEA supplementation, since the effects of this hormone on metabolic abnormalities, endothelial function in vivo, and cardiovascular events are contradictory. However, these results do not exclude the possibility that DHEA treatment may prove beneficial in specific subgroups of elderly subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Perrini
- Section of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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Tabuchi K, Murashita H, Tobita T, Oikawa K, Tsuji S, Uemaetomari I, Hara A. Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Reduces Acoustic Injury of the Guinea-Pig Cochlea. J Pharmacol Sci 2005; 99:191-4. [PMID: 16210774 DOI: 10.1254/jphs.scz050443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study was performed to determine effects of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), a neurosteroid, on acoustic injury. Albino guinea pigs were exposed to a 2 kHz pure tone of 120 or 125 dB sound pressure level for 10 min immediately after intravenous administration of DHEAS. Statistically significant improvement in the compound action potential threshold shifts and in amplitude reduction of distortion-product otoacoustic emissions was observed 1 week after the acoustic overexposure in the animals treated with DHEAS. The present results suggest that DHEAS has a protective effect against acoustic injury of the cochlea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Tabuchi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan.
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24
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Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) is a steroid product of the adrenal gland, which circulates in high concentrations, but whose functions are largely unknown. There is evidence for antiproliferative effects of DHEAS in neoplastic tissue. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of DHEAS on vascular endothelial cell proliferation. It was found that DHEAS at physiological concentrations (10 microM) caused inhibition of cellular growth, which was reversible following removal of the steroid. This effect was not mimicked by other steroids, suggesting that it is not mediated by androgen or estrogen receptors. Uptake of 3H-thymidine was not altered by DHEAS, suggesting that this steroid may induce apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy P Hinson
- Department of Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London, Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, London, UK.
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25
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Hammer F, Subtil S, Sanning P, Filko D, Lux P, Allolio B, Arlt W. Lack of hepatic conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) to DHEA. Endocr Res 2004; 30:759-60. [PMID: 15666822 DOI: 10.1081/erc-200044027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F Hammer
- Department of Medicine, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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26
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Cawley AT, Hine ER, Trout GJ, George AV, Kazlauskas R. Searching for new markers of endogenous steroid administration in athletes: “looking outside the metabolic box”. Forensic Sci Int 2004; 143:103-14. [PMID: 15240029 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2003] [Accepted: 02/13/2004] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A simple means of detecting the abuse of steroids that also occur naturally is a problem facing doping control laboratories. Specific markers are required to allow the detection of the administration of these steroids. These markers are commonly measured using a set of data obtained from the screening of samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Doping control laboratories further need to confirm identified abuse using techniques such as gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS). An interesting urinary species was found while following the pharmacokinetics and changes to the steroid profile from single and multiple oral doses of the International Olympic Committee/World Anti Doping Agency (IOC/WADA) prohibited substance, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The urine samples collected from the administration studies were subject to GC-MS and GC-C-IRMS steroid analysis following cleanup by solid phase extraction techniques. A useful urinary product of DHEA administration was detected in the urine samples from each of the administration studies and was identified by GC-MS experiments to be 3alpha,5-cyclo-5alpha-androstan-6beta-ol-17-one (3alpha,5-cyclo). This compound occurs naturally but the concentrations of 3alpha,5-cyclo were elevated following both the single DHEA administration (up to 385 ng/mL) and multiple DHEA administrations (up to 1240 ng/mL), in relation to those observed prior to these administrations (70 and 80 ng/mL, respectively). A reference distribution of urine samples collected from elite athletes (n = 632) enabled the natural concentration range of 3alpha,5-cyclo to be established (0-280 ng/mL), with a mean concentration of 22 ng/mL. Based on this an upper 3alpha,5-cyclo concentration limit of 140 ng/mL is proposed as a GC-MS screening marker of DHEA abuse in athletes. GC-C-IRMS analysis revealed significant 13C depletion of 3alpha,5-cyclo following DHEA administration. In the single administration study, the delta13C value of 3alpha,5-cyclo changed from -24.3 per thousand to a minimum value of -31.1 per thousand at 9 h post-administration, before returning to its original value after 48 h. The multiple administration study had a minimum delta13C 3alpha,5-cyclo of -33.9 per thousand during the administration phase in contrast to the initial value of -24.2 per thousand. Preliminary studies have shown 3alpha,5-cyclo to most likely be produced from DHEA sulfate found at high levels in urine. The complementary use of GC-MS and GC-C-IRMS to identify new markers of steroid abuse and the application of screening criteria incorporating such markers could also be adapted by doping control laboratories to detect metabolites of androstenedione, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- A T Cawley
- Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory, Australian Government Analytical Laboratories, Pymble NSW
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Djeridane Y, Touitou Y. Ex vivo studies on the acute and chronic effects of DHEA and DHEA-sulfate on melatonin synthesis in young- and old-rat pineal glands. Steroids 2004; 69:343-9. [PMID: 15219412 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2004.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2003] [Revised: 01/20/2004] [Accepted: 03/09/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates the effects of acute and chronic injections of the neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate DHEA-S on pineal gland melatonin synthesis. Pineal melatonin production and plasma melatonin levels were investigated in young (9-week-old) and old (27-month-old) male Wistar rats. DHEA or DHEA-S have been administered acutely in a single intraperitoneal injection at a dosage of 50, 250, or 500 microg per animal, or on a long-term basis, i.e., for 8 days at a dosage of 100 microg per animal, 1 h before the onset of darkness. DHEA, at a dose of 50, 250, or 500 microg per animal, administered acutely to rats had no significant effects on pineal melatonin production whatever the age of the animals. In contrast, 500 microg DHEA-S induced a significant increase in the pineal melatonin content (15% in young animals and 35% in old animals) and the activity of N-acetyltransferase, the rate-limiting enzyme for melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland, (40% in young animals and 20% in old animals), without altering the activity of hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase whatever the age of the animals. At lower concentrations (50 or 250 microg) DHEA-S had no effect on pineal melatonin production regardless of the age of the rats. Chronic injection of DHEA or DHEA-S at a dose of 100 microg had no effect on pineal melatonin or NAT and HIOMT activities in the two age groups. This work shows that DHEA-S (and not DHEA) is able, at pharmacological concentrations, to stimulate melatonin production by rat pineal glands regardless of the age of the animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmina Djeridane
- Faculté de Médecine, Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Biochimie Médicale et Biologie Moléculaire, 91 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
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28
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Sandoval DA, Ping L, Neill RA, Morrey S, Davis SN. The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on counterregulatory responses during repeated hypoglycemia in conscious normal rats. Diabetes 2004; 53:679-86. [PMID: 14988252 DOI: 10.2337/diabetes.53.3.679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
We previously determined that both antecedent hypoglycemia and elevated cortisol levels blunt neuroendocrine and metabolic responses to subsequent hypoglycemia in conscious, unrestrained rats. The adrenal steroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) has been shown in several studies to oppose corticosteroid action. The purpose of this study was to determine if DHEA-S could preserve counterregulatory responses during repeated hypoglycemia. We studied 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats during a series of 2-day protocols. Day 1 consisted of two 2-h episodes of 1) hyperinsulinemic (30 pmol. kg(-1). min(-1)) euglycemia (6.2 +/- 0.2 mmol/l; n = 12; ANTE EUG), 2) hyperinsulinemic euglycemia (6.0 +/- 0.1 mmol/l; n = 8) plus simultaneous intravenous infusion of DHEA-S (30 mg/kg; ANTE EUG + DHEA-S), 3) hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (2.8 +/- 0.1 mmol/l; n = 12; ANTE HYPO), or 4) hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (2.8 +/- 0.1 mmol/l; n = 8) with simultaneous intravenous infusion of DHEA-S (30 mg/kg; ANTE HYPO + DHEA-S). Day 2 consisted of a single 2-h hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemic (2.8 +/- 0.1 mmol/l) clamp. During the final 30 min of day 2, hypoglycemia norepinephrine levels were significantly lower in the ANTE HYPO group versus the ANTE HYPO + DHEA-S group (2.0 +/- 0.2 vs. 3.3 +/- 0.6 nmol/l; P < 0.05). In addition, epinephrine (8 +/- 1 vs. 17 +/- 2, 14 +/- 3, and 15 +/- 3 nmol/l), glucagon (91 +/- 8 vs. 273 +/- 36, 231 +/- 42, and 297 +/- 48 ng/l), and corticosterone (1,255 +/- 193 vs. 1,915 +/- 212, 1,557 +/- 112, and 1,668 +/- 119 pmol/l) were significantly lower in the ANTE HYPO group versus the ANTE EUG, ANTE EUG + DHEA-S, and ANTE HYPO + DHEA-S groups (P < 0.05). Endogenous glucose production was also significantly less in the ANTE HYPO group versus the ANTE EUG, ANTE EUG + DHEA-S, and ANTE HYPO + DHEA-S groups (13 +/- 5 vs. 32 +/- 3, 38 +/- 7, and 29 +/- 8 micro mol/l. kg(-1). min(-1); P < 0.05). Consequently, the amount of exogenous glucose needed to maintain the glycemic level during the clamp studies was significantly higher in the ANTE HYPO versus the ANTE EUG, ANTE EUG + DHEA-S, and ANTE HYPO + DHEA-S groups (57 +/- 8 vs. 22 +/- 5, 18 +/- 6, and 18 +/- 3 micro mol/l. kg(-1). min(-1); P < 0.05). In summary, day-1 antecedent hypoglycemia blunted neuroendocrine and metabolic responses to next-day hypoglycemia. However, simultaneous DHEA-S infusion during antecedent hypoglycemia preserved neuroendocrine and metabolic counterregulatory responses during subsequent hypoglycemia in conscious rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darleen A Sandoval
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
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29
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30
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Hoffman SW, Virmani S, Simkins RM, Stein DG. The delayed administration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate improves recovery of function after traumatic brain injury in rats. J Neurotrauma 2003; 20:859-70. [PMID: 14577864 DOI: 10.1089/089771503322385791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of the current study was to test the hypothesis that dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), a pro-excitatory neurosteroid, could facilitate recovery of function in male rats after delayed treatment following TBI. DHEAS has been found to play a major role in brain development and aging by influencing the migration of neurons, arborization of dendrites, and formation of new synapses. These characteristics make it suitable as a potential treatment to enhance neural repair in response to CNS injury. In our study, behavioral tests were conducted concurrently with DHEAS administration (0, 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg) starting seven days post-injury (PI). These assays included 10 days of Morris Water Maze testing (MWM; 7d PI), 10 days of Greek-Cross (GC; 21d PI), Tactile Adhesive Removal task (TAR; PI days: 6, 13, 20, 27, 34), and spontaneous motor behavior testing (SMB; PI days: 2, 4, 6, 12, 19, 26, 33). Brain-injured rats showed an improvement in performance in all tasks after 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg DHEAS. The most effective dose of DHEAS in the MWM was 10 mg/kg, while in the GC it was 20 mg/kg, in TAR 5 mg/kg, and all doses, except for vehicle, were effective at reducing injury-induced SMB hyperactivity. In no task did DHEAS-treated animals perform worse than the injured controls. In addition, DHEAS had no significant effects on behavioral performance in the sham-operates. These results can be interpreted to demonstrate that after a 7-day delay, the chronic administration of DHEAS to injured rats significantly improves behavioral recovery on both sensorimotor and cognitive tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart W Hoffman
- Brain Research Laboratory, Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, 1648 Pierce Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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31
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Bramnert M, Ekman B, Karlsson A, Olsson T, Rosén T, Thorén M, Valdemarsson S, Werner S. [Guidelines for substitution therapy in pituitary insufficiency in adults]. Lakartidningen 2003; 100:3043-9. [PMID: 14560669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
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Jedrzejuk D, Medras M, Milewicz A, Demissie M. Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in healthy men with age-related decline of DHEA-S: effects on fat distribution, insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism. Aging Male 2003; 6:151-6. [PMID: 14628495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Many animal and human studies show that supraphysiological doses of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) can influence body composition and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Most studies have concentrated on women and have not been randomized, thus creating controversial results. With this in mind, we designed a cross-over double-blind placebo-controlled study of 12 men aged 59.0 +/- 4.8 years, who received either 50 mg/24 h DHEA or placebo for 3 months to assess the influence of DHEA on the content and distribution of fat tissue and serum insulin, glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, as well as testosterone, estradiol, DHEA-sulfate (S), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations and indexes of insulin sensitivity and resistance. Patients were recruited from university employees attending for periodic health checks, with normal hepatic and renal function with endogenous DHEA-S level < 1500 ng/dl. Our results did not reveal any significant changes in study parameters, apart from a statistically significant increase in DHEA-S levels after therapy with active substance.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Jedrzejuk
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Wrocław Medical University, Wybrzeze L. Pasteura 4, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland
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Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate prevented the increase in corticosterone level in rats induced by repeated exposure to stress. The mu-opioid receptor blocker naltrexone administered in a dose of 0.1 mg/kg 20 min before treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate abolished the effect of this agent. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and naltrexone had no effect on rats after acute stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- T A Obut
- Institute of Physiology, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Novosibirsk.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of oral dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) treatment for atrichia pubis in female adolescents. STUDY DESIGN Two XY female adolescents with 17-hydroxylase deficiency and 2 XX females with panhypopituitarism presenting with atrichia pubis were treated with a daily dosage of DHEAS 10 mg/m2 body surface in addition to their regular substitution therapy. The dosage was increased according to clinical response. Pubic hair stages, growth and serum DHEAS were evaluated and in 1 case also serum IGFs and IGFBPs. RESULTS A dosage of 10 mg/m2 for 1 year led to serum DHEAS levels at the lower limit of the normal range. 15 mg/m2 was needed to achieve pubic hair stage 4-5 and axillary hair in patients with 17-hydroxylase deficiency. In panhypopituitarism, pubic hair developed at a slower pace and reached stage 4 on a dosage of 25-30 mg/m2. Baseline serum IGF-I SDS was -0.67 and did not change on the initial dosage of DHEAS, in combination with submaximal estrogen substitution (10 microg ethinyl estradiol). On the combination of 15 mg/m2 DHEAS and full estrogen substitution, IGF-I SDS increased to an average of -0.15. IGFBP-3 SDS increased from 1.4 to a mean of 2.6 in the first year, and went back to 1.4 in the second year. IGFBP-6 SDS was low at baseline (-2.5) and rose to -1.9 and -1.7 IGF-II and IGFBP-1 showed an irregular pattern. CONCLUSIONS Oral administration of DHEAS in a dosage of 15 mg/m2 o.d. is an efficacious treatment for atrichia pubis. For females with a panhypopituitarism a higher dosage appears needed. Given this and other biological actions of DHEAS, substitution therapy with DHEAS or DHEA to females with adrenal androgen deficiency appears rational.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Wit
- Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Kaur G, Kulkarni SK. Subchronic studies on modulation of feeding behavior and body weight by neurosteroids in female mice. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 2001; 23:115-9. [PMID: 11523309 DOI: 10.1358/mf.2001.23.3.627942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Neurosteroids have shown promising therapeutic potential in a wide variety of neuropsychiatric and cognitive disorders. However, little research has been done on their role for the treatment of eating disorders and regulation of energy balance in the body. In the present study, subchronic treatment with the neuroactive steroid progesterone (10 mg/kg s.c.) for 28 days produced significant increases in body weight and elicited marked hyperphagia as compared to a vehicle-treated control group at all time intervals as observed on days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28. On the other hand, subchronic treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) for 28 days at 10 mg/kg s.c. produced significant (p < 0.05) decreases in body weight and food intake at all time intervals on days 1, 7, 14 and 28 suggesting that decreases in food intake are responsible for the reduction of body weight caused by DHEAS in this strain of female mice. Subchronic treatment with DHEAS (10 mg/kg s.c.) also significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed progesterone-induced weight gain and hyperphagia as compared to the progesterone-treated group but not as compared to the vehicle-treated control group (except on day 1). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that progesterone-induced hyperphagia and weight gain can serve as a useful animal model of drug-induced obesity. The drugs useful in this model may have implications for the treatment of obesity caused by disturbances of ovarian hormone secretion in females. Furthermore, the study underscores the use of these neurosteroids for the treatment of eating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Kaur
- Pharmacology Division, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
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Zizzi T, Nunnery M, Cason Z, Tucci M, Benghuzzi H. The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on the reproductive and vital organs of male rats. Biomed Sci Instrum 2001; 35:279-84. [PMID: 11143362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have documented that conventional administration (orally or injections) of DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) or DHEAS (Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate) have induced alteration in tissues of the reproductive track of male rats. However, the exact mechanism of this physiological response has not been extensively studied. In addition, the route of DHEA or DHEAS administration has not been fully investigated. The specific objectives of this study were: (1) to deliver DHEA and DHEAS at a sustained level by means of TCPL delivery system, and (2) to evaluate the ultrastructural changes associated with sustained delivery of DHEA and DHEAS at the reproductive and vital organs level. A total of 12 adult male rats (BW 250-270 gm) were randomly divided into four equal groups. Groups 1-3 were implanted with TCPL ceramic capsules loaded with 200 mg DHEA (low dose), 600 mg DHEA (high dose) and 200 mg DHEAS, respectively. Aseptic surgical techniques were performed throughout the experiment. Blood (2 mls) was collected every other day for biochemical analysis. The weights were recorded bi-weekly. At the end of 21 days post-implantation, all control and experimental animals were sacrificed following standard lab procedure (overdose of Halothane). The reproductive and vital organs were collected, weighed, fixed, embedded, sectioned, and stained (H&E) for histological evaluations. Data obtained from this investigation suggest the following: (1) body weights between the experimental (DHEA and DHEAS) and control were unchanged, (2) weights of the reproductive were significantly different than controls, (3) kidney weights wee the only vital organ that was statistically different than controls, (4) prostatic tissue of the experimental group showed signs of atrophy, and (5) focal atrophy was also evident in the seminferous tubules and testes of DHEA and DHEAS treated rats. Overall conclusion of this study suggest that in male rats, the use of DHEA and DHEAS in a sustained delivery system seems to show some physiological changes in the vital and reproductive organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Zizzi
- University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
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Lapchak PA, Chapman DF, Nunez SY, Zivin JA. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate is neuroprotective in a reversible spinal cord ischemia model: possible involvement of GABA(A) receptors. Stroke 2000; 31:1953-6; discussion 1957. [PMID: 10926963 DOI: 10.1161/01.str.31.8.1953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) may function as neurotrophic or neuroprotective factors to protect central nervous system (CNS) neurons against a variety of insults, including excitotoxicity. The present study evaluated the pharmacological effects of DHEAS in a reversible spinal cord ischemia model. METHODS DHEAS was administered (50 mg/kg IV) 5 or 30 minutes after the start of occlusion to groups of rabbits exposed to ischemia induced by temporary (15 to 60 minutes) occlusion of the infrarenal aorta. The group P(50) represents the duration of ischemia (in minutes) associated with 50% probability of resultant permanent paraplegia. RESULTS The P(50) of the vehicle-treated control group, when behavioral analysis was assessed 18 hours after aortal occlusion, was 28.8+/-2.0 minutes. Neuroprotection was demonstrated if a drug significantly prolonged the P(50) compared with the vehicle-treated control group. Treatment with DHEAS at 5 minutes significantly (P<0.05) prolonged the P(50) of the group to 36.8+/-3.9 minutes. In addition, the DHEAS effect appeared durable, because a significant difference between the control and DHEAS-treated groups was still measurable at the 4-day time point. At 4 days, the P(50) of the control group was 26.1+/-2.2 minutes, whereas the P(50) for the DHEAS-treated group was 38.6+/-5. 9 minutes. DHEAS was not neuroprotective if administered 30 minutes after occlusion. In addition, the GABA(A) antagonist bicuculline abolished the neuroprotective effect of DHEAS. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that neurosteroids may have substantial therapeutic benefit for the treatment of ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Lapchak
- University of California San Diego, Department of Neuroscience, La Jolla, CA 92093-0624, USA.
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Schiffelholz T, Holsboer F, Lancel M. High doses of systemic DHEA-sulfate do not affect sleep structure and elicit moderate changes in non-REM sleep EEG in rats. Physiol Behav 2000; 69:399-404. [PMID: 10913777 DOI: 10.1016/s0031-9384(00)00218-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its metabolite DHEA-sulfate (DHEAS) occur in huge quantities in the plasma as well as in the brain of vertebrates. To investigate whether DHEAS modulates sleep-wake behavior, we assessed the sleep response to three doses (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) of intraperitoneally administered DHEAS, mixed with oil, in 8 rats. DHEAS injections produced dose-dependent and long-lasting elevations in the plasma levels of both DHEAS and DHEA. DHEAS administration did not affect sleep time and architecture but exerted persistent effects on the electroencephalogram (EEG) within non-rapid eye movement sleep: 50 mg/kg DHEAS significantly augmented EEG power in the frequency range of sleep spindles, and 100 mg/kg DHEAS depressed EEG power in the slow-wave frequency bands. The findings indicate that DHEAS changes the sleep EEG in a dose-dependent way, possibly through a modulation of GABA- and glutamate-induced currents.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Schiffelholz
- Clinical Institute of Psychiatry, University of Kiel, Niemannsweg 147, D-24115, Kiel, Germany.
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Abstract
The neurosteroid allopregnanolone (3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one) possesses clear anxiolytic-like effects. Other neurosteroids namely pregnenolone sulfate (PREG-S) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) influence anxiety-related behavior differently. In the present study, the implication of the amygdala, a key structure in mechanisms of fear and anxiety, was investigated as a potential neural substrate for the effects of neurosteroids on anxiety-like behavior in rat. Animals implanted with bilateral cannulae aimed at the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) and infused with neurosteroids, were tested in two animal models of anxiety. Allopregnanolone (8 microg/side) produced a significant increase in responding suppressed by punishment in the conflict test. In the elevated plus maze, allopregnanolone (8 microg/side) induced a significant increase in the time spent and the number of entries in open arms compared with the vehicle-infused controls. No significant changes in punished and unpunished responding of the conflict test were observed with PREG-S (0.001-8 microg/side) and DHEA-S (2-8 microg/side) administered into the CeA or into the lateral ventricle (1-20 microg). The results reveal the lack of activity of PREG-S and DHEA-S in the operant conflict test, but suggest that the central nucleus of the amygdala is a key region involved in the mechanisms underlying the anxiolytic-like action of allopregnanolone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Akwa
- Department of Neuropharmacology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Miller RA, Chrisp C. Lifelong treatment with oral DHEA sulfate does not preserve immune function, prevent disease, or improve survival in genetically heterogeneous mice. J Am Geriatr Soc 1999; 47:960-6. [PMID: 10443857 DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1999.tb01291.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine whether lifelong exposure to dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate extends the lifespan or retards immune senescence in mice. DESIGN Double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention trial. SETTING A specific pathogen-free rodent vivarium. PARTICIPANTS 120 mice bred as a cross between CB6F1 females and C3D2F1 males. INTERVENTION DHEAS at 100 microg/mL in drinking water from weaning until death. MEASUREMENT Age at death, cause of death, antibody production after erythrocyte immunization, and T cell subset profiles in peripheral blood at ages 8 and 18 months. RESULTS DHEAS ingestion did not lead to a significant increase in mean or maximal longevity: the 95% confidence interval for DHEAS effect on mean lifespan ranged from +35 days to -80 days. There were no significant effects of DHEAS on incidence of lethal illnesses, except for a trend toward higher levels of mammary adenocarcinoma in DHEAS-treated females and mouse urinary syndrome in DHEAS-treated males. DHEAS treatment did not improve the ability of middle-aged mice to produce antibody to a foreign particulate antigen, and it did not alter the proportions of age-sensitive T cell subsets in middle-aged animals. CONCLUSION Although differences among species in pharmacokinetics complicate interpretation of studies in which DHEA or DHEAS is administered to rodents, our data provide no support for the idea that chronic exposure to this steroid retards immune senescence or prevents late life illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Miller
- Department of Pathology and Geriatrics Center, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor VA Medical Center, USA
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Manabe A, Hata T, Yanagihara T, Hashimoto M, Yamada Y, Irikoma S, Aoki S, Masumura S, Miyazaki K. Nitric oxide synthesis is increased after dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate administration in term human pregnancy. Hum Reprod 1999; 14:2116-9. [PMID: 10438436 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/14.8.2116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of nitric oxide in the vasodilative effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) in term pregnant women. Circulating nitrite, nitrate and oestradiol concentrations were measured on 10 normal full-term pregnant women before (-30 min) and after (10, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min) administration of a 200 mg i.v. dose of DHEA-S dissolved in 20 ml of 5% dextrose (DHEA-S group). Ten normal full-term pregnant women received 20 ml of 5% dextrose as controls (control group). Maternal blood pressure and heart rate were also recorded. The median oestradiol concentration increased significantly after the infusion in DHEA-S group (P < 0.001), whereas there was no significant change in plasma oestradiol in the control group. In the DHEA-S group, plasma circulating nitrate and nitrite increased significantly at 10 and 30 min after DHEA-S administration respectively (P < 0.05). In the control group, there was no change in plasma nitric oxide (NO) metabolites. No change was found in heart rate or mean arterial blood pressure in the control or DHEA-S groups. These results suggest there may be a link between increased NO and increased oestrogen after DHEA-S injection but their peak values did not coincide. Both may be associated with vasodilation in term pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Manabe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shimane Medical University, 89-1 Enya, Izumo 693-8501, Japan
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Abstract
The present report describes neurosteroid modulation of olfactory bulb function by examining the effects of intrabulbar infusion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), a neurohormone discovered in rat brain, on field potentials in the granule cell layer evoked by paired-pulse stimulation of the mouse lateral olfactory tract. Infusion of DHEAS (5 nmol) significantly decreased the test response without affecting the conditioning response. As a consequence, DHEAS selectively potentiated paired-pulse depression, which is believed to be due to granule cell-mediated inhibition of the mitral/tufted cells. The granule-to-mitral/tufted dendrodendritic synapse is GABAergic. Taken together, these results suggest that DHEAS potentiates the GABAergic dendrodendritic inhibition exerted by the granule cells on the mitral/tufted cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Usui
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Veterinary Medical Science, Kagoshima University, Japan
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Abstract
This study examined the effects of neurosteroids dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and pregnenolone sulfate (PS) and progesterone on the Porsolt forced swim test of depression in mice, and investigated the possible involvement of delta receptors. The immobility time in the mouse forced swimming test was significantly reduced by DHEAS (5 and 20 mg/kg, s.c.) and PS (5 mg/kg) without accompanying changes in the ambulatory or open-field activity. Pretreatment with DHEAS (10 mg/kg) or PS (10 and 20 mg/kg), however, failed to modify the immobility. The relief of behavioral despair in the immobility test by DHEAS (5 and 20 mg/kg) was dose-dependently blocked by preadministration of NE-100 (N,N-dipropyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl-ethylamine monohydrochloride; 0.5 and 1 mg/kg), a putative delta1 receptor antagonist, or progesterone (10 mg/kg), a delta receptor antagonistic neurosteroid. On the other hand, PS (5 mg/kg)-induced decrease in the immobility was significantly blocked by NE-100(0.5 mg/kg), but not by progesterone (10 mg/kg). Neither NE-100 nor progesterone influenced the immobility alone. These data suggest a role for central delta receptor in the antidepressant-like effects of neurosteroids, and reinforced their potential therapeutic use in depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Reddy
- Department of Pharmacology, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
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Norton SD, Harrison LL, Yowell R, Araneo BA. Administration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate retards onset but not progression of autoimmune disease in NZB/W mice. Autoimmunity 1998; 26:161-71. [PMID: 9550284 DOI: 10.3109/08916939708994738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
NZB/W mice spontaneously develop an autoimmune disease characterized by the formation of anti-DNA antibodies and subsequent development of a fatal immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis. Treatment of NZB/W F1 female mice with DHEAS, a precursor of DHEA, beginning at 2 months of age delayed the onset of autoimmune disease and prolonged survival. Animals treated with DHEAS beginning at 2 months of age had significantly lower anti-dsDNA serum antibody titers when compared to controls. Interestingly, DHEAS treatment had no effect on titers of anti-phosphatidylcholine (PtC) "natural" antibodies. Serum levels of IL-10, which increase with onset of disease, were also significantly reduced in mice treated with DHEAS beginning at 2 months of age. In contrast, if DHEAS treatment was started at 6 months of age, there was no effect on mortality rates. In addition, treatment of animals with DHEAS beginning at 6 months of age did not lower serum titers of anti-dsDNA and had no ameliorating effect on anti-PtC antibody production. Serum levels of IL-10 were also unaffected in mice treated with DHEAS beginning at 6 months of age. Together, these data suggest that parenteral administration of DHEAS is effective at delaying autoimmune disease and prolonging survival when given prior to the onset of symptoms. However, DHEAS treatment does not affect the course of disease when treatment begins after the onset of disease. We propose that DHEA(S) therapy used under similar conditions would not provide a clinically beneficial effect in the specific symptoms of immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S D Norton
- Pharmadigm, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah 84109, USA
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Capaldini L. Fatigue and HIV: interview with Lisa Capaldini, M.D. Interview by John S. James. AIDS Treat News 1998:1-6 contd. [PMID: 11365245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
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Chiu KM, Schmidt MJ, Shug AL, Binkley N, Gravenstein S. Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on carnitine acetyl transferase activity and L-carnitine levels in oophorectomized rats. Biochim Biophys Acta 1997; 1344:201-9. [PMID: 9059510 DOI: 10.1016/s0005-2760(96)00141-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Alteration in energy metabolism of postmenopausal women might be related to the reduction of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). DHEA and DHEAS decline with age, leveling at their nadir near menopause. DHEA and DHEAS modulate fatty acid metabolism by regulating carnitine acyltransferases and CoA. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dietary supplementation with DHEAS would also increase tissue L-carnitine levels, carnitine acetyltransferase (CAT) activity and mitochondrial respiration in oophorectomized rats. Plasma L-carnitine levels rose following oophorectomy in all groups (P < 0.0001). Supplementation with DHEAS was not associated with further elevation of plasma L-carnitine levels, but with increased hepatic total and free L-carnitine (P = 0.021 and P < 0.0001, respectively) and cardiac total L-carnitine concentrations (P = 0.045). In addition, DHEAS supplementation increased both hepatic and cardiac CAT activities (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.05 respectively). CAT activity positively correlated with the total and free carnitine levels in both liver and heart (r = 0.764, r = 0.785 and r = 0.700, r = 0.519, respectively). Liver mitochondrial respiratory control ratio, ADP:O ratio and oxygen uptake were similar in both control and supplemented groups. These results demonstrate that in oophorectomized rats, dietary DHEAS supplementation increases the liver and heart L-carnitine levels and CAT activities. In conclusion, DHEAS may modulate L-carnitine level and CAT activity in estrogen deficient rats. The potential role of DHEAS in the regulation of fatty acid oxidation in postmenopausal women is worthy of investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Chiu
- Institute of Aging/Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
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Abstract
We previously reported that high-affinity sigma type 1 (sigma 1) ligands attenuate the learning impairment induced in mice by dizocilpine, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist. Neurosteroids, such as pregnenolone sulfate, progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), modulate NMDA-evoked responses in the central nervous system. Furthermore, some of them were reported to interact with sigma-receptors. This study was carried out to investigate whether DHEAS, a neurosteroid with memory-enhancing effects, attenuates the dizocilpine-induced learning impairment in mice, and, if so, by a mechanism involving sigma 1-receptors. Learning was evaluated using spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze for spatial working memory and step-down type of passive avoidance for long-term memory. At doses about 10-20 mg/kg s.c., DHEAS significantly attenuated dizocilpine (0.15 mg/kg i.p.)-induced impairment of learning on both tests. The enhancing effect of DHEAS (20 mg/kg s.c.) was antagonized by co-administration of the sigma-antagonist BMY-14802 (5 mg/kg i.p.) and suppressed by a subchronic treatment with haloperidol (4 mg/kg/day s.c. for 7 days). These results indicate that DHEAS attenuates dizocilpine-induced learning impairment via an interaction with sigma 1-receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Maurice
- INSERM U 336, Développement, Plasticité et Vieillessement du Système Nerveux, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, Montpellier, France.
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Evans TG, Judd ME, Dowell T, Poe S, Daynes RA, Araneo BA. The use of oral dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate as an adjuvant in tetanus and influenza vaccination of the elderly. Vaccine 1996; 14:1531-7. [PMID: 9014295 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(96)00095-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Elderly individuals often exhibit a poorer immune response and shorter duration of immunity to vaccines than younger persons. Improvement in vaccine response has been demonstrated when administering the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) as an adjuvant in animal trials. Two separate, randomized double-blinded vaccine trials were therefore conducted using DHEAS as an oral adjuvant in individuals age 65 or older. Sixty-six individuals were randomized to DHEAS, 50 mg po bid for 4 days, or a placebo capsule. Tetanus vaccination was given immediately before the fifth dose. At entry the level of protective antibody was age-dependent (P = 0.009), and by 28 days post-vaccination most individuals had protective levels of antibody, with no difference noted between treatment groups. In the second study, 67 individuals received placebo capsules or DHEAS immediately before and 24 h after influenza vaccination. The number of individuals who developed protective titers (> or = 1:40) was not different in the two groups. The mean log increase in HAI response was greater in the DHEAS group to all three vaccine components, although this did not achieve significance. Minimal side-effects of DHEAS administration were noted. Given the trend toward improved response in the elderly to influenza, larger trials using DHEA as an adjuvant in vaccines that are neoantigens may be indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- T G Evans
- Infectious Diseases Section, Salem VAMC, VA 24153, USA
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