Physiol. Res. 55: 429-436, 2006


Circulating Neuroactive C21- and C19-Steroids in Young Men Before and After Ejaculation

L. STÁRKA, M. HILL, H. HAVLÍKOVÁ, L. KANCHEVA, V. SOBOTKA1

Institute of Endocrinology and 1Sanatorium Pronatal, Prague, Czech Republic

Received July 14, 2005
Accepted September 20, 2005
On-line available October 17, 2005

Summary
Twelve neuroactive and neuroprotective steroids, androgens and androgen precursors i.e. 3a,17b-dihydroxy-5a-androstane, 3a-hydroxy-5a-androstan-17-one, 3a-hydroxy-5b-androstan-17-one, androst-5-ene-3b,17b-diol, 3b,17a-dihydroxy-pregn-5-en-20-one (17a-hydroxy-pregnenolone), 3b-hydroxy-androst-5-en-17-one (dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA), testosterone, androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (androstenedione), 3a-hydroxy-5a-pregnan-20-one (allopregnanolone), 3b-hydroxy-pregn-5-en-20-one (pregnenolone), 7a-hydroxy-DHEA, and 7b-hydroxy-DHEA were measured using the GC-MS system in young men before and after ejaculation provoked by masturbation. The circulating level of 17a-hydroxypregnenolone increased significantly, whereas the levels of other circulating steroids did not change at all. This fact speaks against the hypothesis that a decrease in the level of neuroactive steroids, e.g. allopregnanolone, may trigger the orgasm-related increase of oxytocin as it was reported by other authors.  


Key words
Allopregnanolone • Ejaculation • 17a-hydroxypregnenolone • Neuroactive steroids • Testosterone


© 2006 by the Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences