Effect of
Starvation on Branched-Chain a-Keto Acid
Dehydrogenase Activity in Rat Heart and Skeletal
Muscle J. ŠULCOVÁ, M. HILL,
Z. MAŠEK, 1R. ČEŠKA, 2A.
NOVÁČEK, R. HAMPL, L. STÁRKA
Institute
of Endocrinology, 1Third
Department of Internal Medicine, First Faculty of
Medicine, Charles University, 2AREKO,
Ltd., Prague, Czech Republic
Received
March 23, 2000
Accepted
June 13, 2000
Summary
The
aim of this study was to investigate the effect
of 7-oxo-DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) on the
serum levels of steroid sexual hormones,
gonadotropins, lipids and lipoproteins in men.
7-oxo-DHEA was applied onto the skin as a gel to
10 volunteers aged 27 to 72 years for 5
consecutive days. The single dose contained 25 mg
7-oxo-DHEA. Serum concentrations of testosterone,
estradiol, cortisol, androstenedione, luteinizing
hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), total
cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol,
triglycerides, apolipoprotein A-I and B and
lipoprotein(a) were measured before the beginning
and shortly after the end of the steroid
application. After the treatment, we noted the
following significant changes: a decline of
testosterone and estradiol levels, increase of
LH, HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I
levels. The decrease of total cholesterol levels
was of the borderline significance. A slight but
significant increase was found in apolipoprotein
B and lipoprotein(a). The most expressive was the
fall of the atherogenic index. We suggest that
the gel containing 7-oxo-DHEA might be a suitable
drug for improving the composition of the steroid
and lipid parameters in elderly men.
Key
words
7-oxo-DHEA
· Transdermal application · Sex hormones ·
Lipids · LH
Reprint
requests
RNDr.
Jarmila Šulcová, CSc., Institute of
Endocrinology, Národní 8, 116 94 Praha, Czech
Republic, e-mail: jsulcova@endo.cz
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