Volume 50: 9-18, 2001

 

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

 

PHYSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
© 2001 by the Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences

ISSN 0862 - 8408

Issue 1