Abstract
Recent in vitro studies have shown that 5α-androstan-3α, 17β-diol (DIOL) is a major conversion product in/man from labelled precursors. This report describes a specific and highly sensitive RIA for the estimation of plasma DIOL in children during their adolescent/growth. Plasma DIOL values appear to be quite low(0.5ng/100ml) at puberty stage 1. A marked increase was noted from stage 2(1.8ng/100ml) to stage 3(3.5ng/100ml), but without showing any significant difference between stage 3 to 4(3.8ng/100ml). Stage 5 boys(7.3ng/100ml) demonstrate a steep rise in the plasma level, which increased further in adulthood (11.5ng/100ml). The pattern of the mean trend in the increament of DIOL paralleled more with that of DHT than with T. When the ratio of DIOL/T is considered, there is a sharp rise from stage 1 to stage 2 followed by a decreament to stage 3. In bilateral cryptorchidism the levels of DIOL were significantly lower when related to values seen in comparable age-groups.
Although the distribution and metabolism of DIOL has been found to be different from that of T and DHT, it is possible that like DHT, this substance, as another steroid messenger, has certain actions on the male reproductive organs during sexual maturation.
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Klemm, W., Liebich, H. & Gupta, D. PLASMA 5α -ANDR0STANE 3α, 17β -DIOL IN BOYS DURING PUBERTAL DEVELOPMENT. Pediatr Res 9, 684 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00103
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00103
