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
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