Download PDF
Horm Metab Res 2004; 36(2): 107-110
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-814220
Original Clinical
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Sex Differences due to Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Feeding Affecting Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Secretion in Golden Syrian Hamsters

Y.  Maeda1 , J.  Nagatomo1 , H.  Sueta1 , S.  Tanaka1 , Y.  Ota1 , H.  Shiotsuki1 , T.  Eto1 , M.  Kai1 , K.  Kondo1 , K.  Chijiiwa1
  • 1Department of Surgery I, Miyazaki Medical College, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

Received 4 February 2003

Accepted after revision 22 August 2003

Publication Date:
05 March 2004 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The metabolism of orally administered dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) by male and female golden Syrian hamsters was examined by quantification of DHEA and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in gallbladder bile, urine and feces using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Plasma levels of DHEA and DHEAS were also determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). After 5 days of oral DHEA administration (100 mg/kg body weight twice a day), RIA showed that plasma levels of DHEA and DHEAS were increased approximately 3 - 6 and 4 - 5 times, respectively, compared to controls. More than 95 % of circulating DHEA (S) in the peripheral blood was DHEAS. There was no significant sex difference in DHEAS plasma levels between male and female animals in the DHEA-supplemented group. However, 0.2 - 0.3 % of ingested DHEA was conjugated to DHEAS and excreted in urine by females, whereas less than 0.002 % was excreted in urine by males (p < 0.005). DHEAS was excreted in bile by males after DHEA supplementation, and the sex differences in DHEAS levels observed in bile were statistically significant (male, 18.7 ± 7.5 vs. female, 5.6 ± 3.1 μmol/l) (p < 0.005). Small amounts of ingested DHEA were excreted in an unchanged state in feces, and no sex difference was observed. These results suggest that there is a considerable sex difference in the conjugation and excretion of orally administered DHEA in the hamster.

Key words

Dehydroepiandrosterone - Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate - Golden hamsters

References

  • 1 Orentreich N, Brind J L, Rizer R L, Vogelman J H. Age changes and sex differences in serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations throughout adulthood.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1984;  59 551-555
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Ebeling P, Koivisto V A. Physiological importance of dehydroepiandrosterone.  Lancet. 1994;  343 1479-1481
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Baulieu E-E. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): A fountain of youth?.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1996;  81 3147-3151
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Barrou Z, Charru P, Lidy C. Dehydroepiandrosterone and aging.  Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1997;  24 233-241
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Roberts E. The importance of being dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (in the blood of primates): a longer and healthier life?.  Biochem Pharmacol. 1999;  57 329-346
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Maurer M, Trajanoski Z, Frey G, Hiroi N, Galon J, Willenberg H S, Gold P W, Chrousos G P, Scherbaum W A, Bornstein S R. Differential gene expression profile of glucocorticoids, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone in human cells.  Horm Metab Res. 2001;  33 691-695
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Flood J F, Roberts E. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate improves memory in aging mice.  Brain Res. 1988;  448 178-181
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Flood J F, Smith G E, Roberts E. Dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate enhance memory retention in mice.  Brain Res. 1988;  448 267-278
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Rudman D, Dhetty K R, Mattson D E. Plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in nursing home men.  Am Geriatr Soc. 1990;  38 421-427
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Berr C, Lafont S, Debuire B, Dartigues J, Barieu E. Relationships of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in the elderly with functional, psychological and mental status, and short-time mortality: a French community-based study.  Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1996;  93 13 410-13 415
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Svec F, Porter J R. The action of exogeneous dehydroepiandrosterone in experimental animals and humans.  Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1998;  218 174-191
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Labrie F, Belanger A, Cusan L, Candas B. Marked decline in serum concentration of adrenal C19 sex steroid precursors and conjugated androgen metabolites during aging.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997;  82 2396-2402
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Sulcova J, Hill M, Hampl R, Starka L. Age- and sex-related differences in serum levels of unconjugated dehydropiandrosterone and its sulphate in normal subjects.  J Endocrinol. 1997;  154 57-62
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Hamilton S R, Gordon G B, Floyd J, Golightly S. Evaluation of dietary dehydroepiandrosterone for chemoprotection against tumorigenesis in premalignant colonic epitherium of male F344 rat.  Cancer Res. 1991;  51 476-480
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Hobe G, Hillesheim H G, Schön R, Reddersen G, Knappe R, Bannasch P, Mayer D. Sex differencs in dehydroepiandrosterone metabolism in the rat: different plasma levels following ingestion of DHEA-supplemented diet and different metabolite patterns in plasma, bile and urine.  Horm Metab Res. 1994;  26 326-329
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Hobe G, Schon R, Undisz K, Blei L, Hillesheim H-G. Sex differences in dehydroepiandrosterone metabolism in rodents.  Ann NY Acad Sci. 1995;  774 308-311
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Cloutier M, Fleury A, Courtemanche J, Ducharme L, Mason J I, Lehoux J-G. Characterization of the adrenal cytochrome P450C17 in the hamster, a small animal model for the study of adrenal dehydroepiandrosterone biosynthesis.  DNA Cell Biol. 1997;  16 357-368
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Maeda Y, Kamimura R, Namba K, Tanaka E, Iwamura T, Higashi S, Setoguchi T. A simple, accurate, and sensitive method of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate: application for quantitative determination in human breast cyst and duct fluids.  Steroids. 2002;  68 333-338
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Wichmann U, Wichmann G, Krause W. Serum levels of testosterone precursors, testosterone and estradiol in 10 animal species.  Exp Clin Endocrinol. 1984;  83 283-290
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Piper D R, Lobocki C A, Lichten E M, Malaczynski A J. Dehydroepiandrosterone and exercise in Golden hamsters.  Physiology and Behavior. 1999;  67 607-610
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Piper D R, Lobocki C A. Characterization of serum dehydroepiandrosterone secretion in Golden hamsters.  Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 2000;  224 278-284
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Laatikainen T, Vihko R. Quantitation of C19O2 and C21O2 steroid mono- and disulfates in human bile.  Steroids. 1969;  14 119-131
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Laatikainen T, Vihko R. Identification of C19O2 and C21O2 steroids in the glucuronide fraction in human bile.  Eur J Biochem. 1969;  10 165-171
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Eldere J V, Mertens J, Eyssen H. Influence of intestinal bacterial desulfation on the enterohepatic circulation of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.  J Steroid Biochem. 1990;  l36 451-456
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

Y. Maeda

Department of Surgery I · Miyazaki Medical College

5200 Kihara · Kiyotake · Miyazaki, 889-1692 · Japan

Phone: + 81 (985) 85-2808

Fax: + 81 (985) 85-5814

Email: maedayo@post.miyazaki-med.ac.jp

      >