Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01189 (beta-endorphin)
 21,003 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The aim of the present investigation was to compare the changes in plasma estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), androstenedione (delta 4-A), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and prolactin (PRL) in standardized tests (15-min consecutive work loads of 60%, 70%, 80% VO2 max to exhaustion) in 13 eumenorrheic untrained (UT) and 8 highly trained women (MR). Blood was obtained 15 and 2 min before exercise and at the end of each work load or each 15 min period. The results showed a significant increase (0.05 greater than P less than 0.001, two-way ANOVA) in plasma E2 P, T delta 4-A, PRL, and ACTH both in UT and MR irrespective of the phase of the menstrual cycle. DHEA S levels increased significantly in the MR, but not in the UT, PRL and ACTH increased linearly with exercise in MR and nonlinearly in UT. In the latter group, only the 80% VO2 max work load was able to elicit significant increments in the plasma levels of these hormones. In the MR plasma T and delta 4-A levels increased relatively more pronounced (P less than 0.05) at comparable work loads and exercise times than in the UT. LH levels decreased with exercise both in the UT and MR, whereas FSH levels remained unchanged (MR) or decreased (UT). These findings suggest that during exercise the ovarian hormones are increased by more unspecific mechanisms such as a decreased metabolic clearance rate, whereas in the MR, adrenal secretion of androgens is enhanced.
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PMID:Multiple hormonal responses to physical exercise in eumenorrheic trained and untrained women. 342 89

We have investigated the effect of a 3-month endurance training program (running and cycling) on plasma hormone responses during standardized bicycle ergometer work (15-min consecutive work loads of 60%, 70%, 80%, and eventually 90% VO2 max) in eight previously untrained eumenorrheic women. The subjects were investigated before and after training both in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle (between the 7th-10th and 20th-25th days of their menstrual cycle, respectively). Blood was obtained 15 and 2 min before the onset of exercise and at the end of each work load from an indwelling catheter. In each sample, the plasma concentrations of estradiol 17 beta (E2), progesterone (P), testosterone (T), androstenedione (delta 4-A), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), prolactin (PRL), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were assayed in duplicate by RIA; lactate was assayed as well. The hormone concentrations were expressed in absolute as well as in relative values. After training basal DHEA-S and ACTH levels were significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in both phases of the menstrual cycle, whereas basal luteal phase E2 and T levels were significantly (0.05 greater than P greater than 0.01) lower after training. Exercise induced significant increments in the relative values of all hormones in both phases (0.05 greater than P greater than 0.001). After training, T and DHEA-S increased relatively more pronounced (0.05 greater than P greater than 0.02) in the follicular and luteal phase, respectively.
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PMID:Effect of a 3-month endurance training program on metabolic and multiple hormonal responses to exercise. 342 91

To assess the effect of chronic hypersecretion of corticotropin (ACTH) and other peptides derived from proopiomelanocortin , and of cortisol, on plasma adrenal androgen concentration, plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione (delta 4 A), and cortisol were measured in 14 children and adolescents with Cushing's disease, a 9-year-old boy with an ectopic ACTH-producing tumour, and a group of normal, age-related individuals. The plasma DHEA-S concentration was normal for chronological age in 9 of 12 patients and for bone age in 7 of 10 patients. The plasma DHEA level was normal for chronological age in 12 of 14 patients and for bone age in 8 of 10 patients. In contrast, the concentration of plasma delta 4 A was raised for chronological age in 6 of 13 patients and for bone age in 7 of 10 patients. All patients had raised plasma cortisol levels in the afternoon and other laboratory and clinical signs of hypercortisolism. In the boy with an ectopic ACTH-producing tumour, plasma DHEA-S was moderately raised, plasma DHEA was normal, and plasma delta 4 A was very high. This patient's plasma ACTH levels ranged from 1340 to 1520 pg/ml and the cortisol levels from 51 to 95 micrograms/dl. The findings suggest that a factor other than ACTH is also required for adrenal androgen secretion. Since the other proopiomelanocortin -related peptides--ie, the N-terminal peptide (1-76), beta-endorphin (beta-EP), beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), and gamma-lipotropin (gamma-LPH)--are raised in the plasma of patients with Cushing's disease, one of these is unlikely to be that putative factor.
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PMID:Dissociation between plasma adrenal androgens and cortisol in Cushing's disease and ectopic ACTH-producing tumour: relation to adrenarche. 614 33

Fifteen women with idiopathic hirsutism (N = 11) or hirsutism with androgen excess (N = 4) were treated by Cyproterone acetate orally (50 mg from the 5 th to the 25 th day of the menstrual cycle) and Ethinyl Estradiol (day 15-25). Hirsutism was improved in 86% of cases with progressive improvement at 3, 6, 12 months. At 12 months, the clinical score for hirsutism was 56% of the original score. Disturbance of menstrual cycles was more frequent than reported with Hammerstein's pattern of treatment. Clinical and biological tolerance was good. delta 4 androstenedione decreased significantly at 6 months (respectively 2,26 ng/ml - 1,25 ng/ml). There was no significant decrease of plasma testosterone. Result of B 1-24 corticotropin test remained normal after 12 months of treatment.
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PMID:[Cyproterone acetate. 15 cases of hirsutism treated for 1 year]. 623 50

The plasma concentrations of testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone (D), androstenedione (A), pregnenolone (delta 5P), progesterone (P), 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-delta 5P), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-P), 11-deoxycortisol (S), and cortisol (F) were measured before, and 30 and 60 minutes after, a bolus intravenous injection of 25 units of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in nine normal women and in fifteen patients with a variety of manifestations of androgen excess. Patients with androgen excess demonstrated significantly higher mean baseline levels of T, D, A, delta 5P, 17-delta 5P, and 17-P. After a bolus intravenous injection of 25 units of ACTH, higher-than-normal increments were noted for the following steroids: delta 5P (one patient), 17-delta 5P (one patient), D (two patients), P (one patients), 17-P (two patients), and S (two patients). Following ACTH injections, the ratios of increments in plasma steroid pairs were computed to estimate the efficiency of several adrenal enzymes, and evidence suggesting partial deficiency of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase delta 4-5 isomerase (five patients) and 11 beta-hydroxylase (five patients) was found. In addition, 6 of the 15 patients with androgen excess exhibited an abnormally high increment in D relative to the increment in F. The data show that apparent abnormalities in adrenal steroid biosynthesis are a frequent occurrence in patients with hyperandrogenism.
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PMID:Abnormal adrenal responses to adrenocorticotropic hormone in hyperandrogenic women. 624 65

Adrenal delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) activity was determined in male rate 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age. Mean (+/- SE) adrenal 3 beta-HSD concentration (microgram delta 4-androstenedione formed/minute/mg tissue), specific activity (microgram/minute/mg protein) and total content (microgram/minute/pair of adrenals) were less (p less than 0.001 to p less than 0.025) in male rats 12 months of age (0.222 +/- 0.010, 1.66 +/- 0.09 and 8.6 +/- 0.8, respectively) or older, than in males four months of age (0.372 +/- 0.011, 2.69 +/- 0.07 and 13.4 +/- 1.1, respectively). Subcutaneous administration of 10 IU adrenocorticotropin daily for a period of five days to male rats 24 months of age elevated adrenal weight by 50 percent and restored dehydrogenase activity to that of the young untreated animal. Therefore, adrenal function in male rats as determined by 3 beta-HSD activity declines with advancing age, but remains responsive to adrenocorticotropic stimulation.
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PMID:Effect of aging and adrenocorticotropin on adrenal delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in male rats. 626 36

Thirty-one cases of idiopathic hirsutism, characterized biochemically in the basal state by increased levels of urinary 3 alpha-androstane-5 alpha, 17 beta-diol and normal levels of the main androgens, were studied. In order to determine a possible etiologic heterogeneity of idiopathic hirsutism, pituitary gonadotropin responses to synthetic luteinizing-releasing hormone (LRH) and adrenal steroid responses to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation were evaluated and the results were compared to those in six normal women. On the basis of the results obtained in each hirsute patient after LRH and ACTH tests, two groups were identified. The majority, 23 of 31 hirsute patients (group I), had results similar to those in the control group. In the other eight patients (group II), biologic abnormalities were disclosed and suggested a partial adrenal 11 beta-hydroxylase defect in two patients, an incomplete form of adrenal 3 beta-ol deficiency in one patient, an adrenal hyperreactivity without evident cause in two patients, and polycystic ovary syndrome in association with an adrenal hyperreactivity in three patients. As a group, the eight patients showed ACTH-stimulated increments in testosterone, delta 4-androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and 17-ketosteroids that were significantly greater (p less than 0.01) than the mean responses in the control group. The conclusion is that some women who previously were designated as having "idiopathic" hirsutism had an adrenal and/or ovarian component to their hyperandrogenism which could be shown only by appropriate dynamic tests.
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PMID:Evidence for adrenal and/or ovarian dysfunction as a possible etiology of idiopathic hirsutism. 631 Oct 16

The effect upon steroidogenesis of adding various steroids produced by the placenta was studied in short term cultures of human fetal adrenal cells. The addition of high concentrations (10(3) ng/ml) of estrone or estriol inhibited the production of cortisol, but only the former elicited a parallel increase in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) production. Estradiol was effective in inhibiting delta-4-3-ketosteroid production at concentrations of 10-100 ng/ml, levels which approach those found in the fetal circulation, while DHA production was increased at concentrations of 1 microgram/ml. The addition of progesterone (4 microgram/ml) to the medium caused increased production of cortisol and corticosterone, but had no effect on DHA production. Pregnenolone (4 microgram/ml) increased the basal production of DHA and slightly impaired both basal and ACTH-stimulated aldosterone production, but had no effect on cortisol production. The data demonstrate that the many fetal and placental factors which have been studied to date, only ACTH and estrogens can interact to produce the characteristic fetal pattern of steroidogenesis. Preliminary studies indicate that this effect-stimulated aldosterone production, but had no effect on cortisol production. The data demonstrate that the many fetal and placental factors which have been studied to date, only ACTH and estrogens can interact to produce the characteristic fetal pattern of steroidogenesis. Preliminary studies indicate that this effect-stimulated aldosterone production, but had no effect on cortisol production. The data demonstrate that the many fetal and placental factors which have been studied to date, only ACTH and estrogens can interact to produce the characteristic fetal pattern of steroidogenesis. Preliminary studies indicate that this effect of estrogen is not influenced by other peptide hormones such as hCG, human prl, beta-lipotropin, corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide, or beta-endorphin. A revised model of the fetoplacental steroidogenic unit is presented which may explain both normal and fetal hyperplasia and postnatal involution of the adrenal cortex and the variations from this pattern seen in apituitary children.
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PMID:The control of steroidogenesis by human fetal adrenal cells in tissue culture. IV. The effect of exposure to placental steroids. 645 37

Nine women with clinical features of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) were studied in order to establish the differential diagnosis with late-onset adrenal hyperplasia (LOAH). Their hirsutism was classified as moderate in five patients and severe in the remaining four cases. All patients had bilateral polycystic ovarian enlargement by ultrasound examination. As a control group five women with normal ovarian function without hirsutism were submitted to the same protocol of study. The patients studied as well as the women of the control group had basal serum determinations of pregnenolone (P5),17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-OHP5),dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), pregesterone (P), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (A), testosterone and cortisol by radioimmunoassay techniques. The basal serum levels of androgens showed no correlation with the severity of hirsutism or with the ultrasound findings. An adrenal stimulation with synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to all women was performed in order to assess their adrenal responsiveness. The analysis of the ratios between delta 5 and delta 4 steroids demonstrated a partial enzymatic blockade at the level of 3 beta-o1-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3-HSD) in three patients. The blockade was particularly in the conversion of P5 to P and 17-OHP5 to 17-OHP. The lack of delta 4 steroid secretion in the presence of normal increase of delta 5 precursors following ACTH was noted. These findings confirm the clinical use of the ACTH stimulation test to reveal the presence of enzymatic alterations in adrenal steroidogenesis in some patients previously considered to have PCOS. Since it wa demonstrated that the conversion steps were affected in variable degrees, the presence of different isoenzymes of 3-HD is suggested.
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PMID:Heterogeneity of late-onset adrenal 3 beta-ol-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency in patients with hirsutism and polycystic ovaries. 780 81

In mammalian and fish species, P450c17 mediates both 17 alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities in the synthesis of steroid hormones. Previous results have shown that among the adrenal steroid hydroxylase enzymes involved in adrenal C19 steroid and glucocorticoid synthesis, regulation of cytochrome P450c17 is of primary importance because it is localized at the key branch between glucocorticoid and C19 steroid synthesis. A cDNA library from guinea pig adrenal was constructed, and the complete 17 alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 cDNA was isolated. The guinea pig P450c17 cDNA includes the full-length coding region (1,524 nucleotide), the complete 3' untranslated region (169 nucleotide), and 39 bases of the 5' untranslated region. Our clone shares most of the features of the other P450c17 cDNAs; however, in addition, we identified a novel conserved region of 18 amino acids located in exon I between residues 80 and 97. This region presents the highest percentage of identity among the other P450c17 enzymes and is positioned one helixturn upstream of the important Ser106 on the corresponding human form. On Northern blot, the cDNA hybridizes with a major 1.8-kb mRNA and with two other related P450c17 mRNA of about 3 and 4 kb. P450c17 mRNA is equally distributed in male and female gonads and adrenals. Characterization of the enzymatic activity shows that 17 alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase are carried by a single protein, but in homogenates 17,20-lyase activity is barely detectable. Moreover, we demonstrate in vitro and in vivo that the guinea pig enzyme preferentially has very high levels of 17 alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities only toward delta 4 steroids. Second-messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate and adrenocorticotropin specifically increased the abundance of P450c17 mRNA levels in guinea pig adrenal cells.
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PMID:Molecular cloning and expression of guinea pig cytochrome P450c17 cDNA (steroid 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase): tissue distribution, regulation, and substrate specificity of the expressed enzyme. 781 86


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