Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Steroid Metabolic Effects”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Central control of hepatic steroid metabolism: effect of discrete hypothalamic lesions.

The effects of various hypothalamic lesions on hepatic steroid metabolism in adult rats were investigated. It was found that frontal deafferentation at the retrochiasmatic and suprachiasmatic level resulted in a complete "feminization" of hepatic steroid metabolism in male rats. Such an effect was also seen when lesions involving mainly the anterior periventricular hypothalamic area and the suprachiasmatic nucleus were performed in male rats. Midline lesions, anterior to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, on the other hand, did not result in any significant effects. A moderate degree of "feminization" was obtained after bilateral lesions involving mainly the nucleus interstitialis striae terminalis but including also parts of the anterior commissure. Small lesions in the lateral preoptic area were, however, without effect. No effects were seen of analogous lesions in female rats in any of the cases studied. The present findings suggest that a region including the anterior hypothalamic periventricular area, the suprachiasmatic nucleus and adjacent areas is involved in the control of hepatic steroid metabolism. It is postulated that the neuronal cell bodies that produce a factor with an inhibitory effect on the secretion of "feminizing factor" have their origins in this area of the hypothalamus, or, alternatively, may send axons through this area to the basal hypothalamus and thus directly or indirectly influence the anterior pituitary gland.

Afferent Pathways↗

Systemic absorption of topical steroids. Metabolic effects as an index of mild hypercortisolism.

This study was undertaken to determine whether the commonly used treatment of psoriasis with potent topical glucocorticoids results in hypercortisolism and whether metabolic changes might provide a means for monitoring pharmacologic effects of excessive systemic absorption of glucocorticoids. Plasma cortisol, glucose, and insulin and circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes were assessed under controlled conditions in five otherwise healthy patients with psoriasis (40% to 85% involvement) treated with topical desoximetasone, without occlusion. In all patients, there were rapid and sustained suppression of endogenous cortisol production, twofold to threefold increases in fasting insulin levels indicating insulin resistance, and elevated levels of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Two patients also experienced reduced glucose tolerance. These findings suggest that application of potent corticosteroids to large areas of diseased skin results in sufficient systemic absorption to cause not only adrenal suppression but some degree of hypercortisolism with greater frequency and rapidity than has been suggested. Prospective monitoring of insulin-glucose relationships as a sensitive index of the metabolic effects of glucocorticoids may provide a means of assessing excess systemic absorption that is not predictable on the basis of adrenal suppression or circulating levels of the drug. Such prediction could have particular relevance in anticipating adverse clinical effects in the treatment of chronic skin disorders with potent topical glucocorticoids.

Administration, Topical↗

Update on the metabolic effects of steroidal contraceptives and their relationship to cardiovascular disease risk.

Evaluation of metabolic disturbances has had an important role in the modification of oral contraceptive formulations toward estrogen-progestin combinations with reduced adverse metabolic impact. An increasing number of interrelationships between metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease are being recognized, and a metabolic syndrome of disturbances has been identified with insulin resistance as a potential underlying factor. The insulin resistance syndrome includes hyperinsulinemia and impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, reduced high-density lipoprotein concentrations, and hypertension. Increased concentration of a small, dense, low-density lipoprotein subtype may also be important. Depending on steroid type and dose, combined oral contraceptives may induce all the features of the insulin resistance syndrome. Reduction in estrogen dose and modification of progestin content have resulted in formulations with no adverse effect on high-density lipoprotein and blood pressure, but insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia remain. These are caused primarily by the estrogen component. Therefore modification of the estrogen content of oral contraceptives might result in "metabolically transparent" formulations that could conceivably afford a degree of cardiovascular protection.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Update on the metabolic effects of steroidal contraceptives.

Modern oral contraceptive pills are safe and show minimal metabolic effects that have little clinical significance to smoking and reproductive age (even up to menopause). Multiphasic and 30 to 35 micrograms EE fixed combination pills are preferable to higher dose EE pills. Triphasic pills with norgestrel or norethindrone, monophasic norethindrone pills, and combination pills with the newer progestins are all probably metabolically comparable. The levonorgestrel implant is convenient, reversible, and effective and eliminates estrogenic metabolic effects. Metabolic benefits of the pill may include less acne, better preservation of bone mass, and less blood loss. Women who smoke should be encouraged to stop. Women with risk factors for atherosclerosis such as smoking, lipid abnormalities, diabetes, or hypertension should avoid combination pills. Women with a history of pregnancy, steroid-related thrombophlebitis, or thromboembolic disease should not use estrogen-containing pills.

Adult↗

Steroid metabolism and effects in central and peripheral glial cells.

Hormonal steroids participate in the control of a large number of functions of the central nervous system (CNS); recent data show that they may also intervene at the level of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Both the CNS and the PNS metabolize endogenous as well as exogenous steroids; one of the major enzymatic system is represented by the 5alpha-reductase-3alpha-hydroxysteroid complex. This is a versatile system, since every steroid possessing the delta 4-3keto configuration (e.g., testosterone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone) may be a substrate. High levels of 5alpha-reductase are found in the white matter of the CNS and in purified myelin. The observation that, in addition to neurons, glia may be a target for steroid action is an important recent finding. The effects of progesterone, testosterone, corticoids, and their respective 5alpha and 3alpha-5alpha derivatives on the expression of glial genes are presented and discussed. It has also been found that progesterone and/or its 5alpha-reduced metabolites increase the mRNA for the two major proteins of peripheral myelin, the glycoprotein Po and the peripheral myelin protein 22, in the sciatic nerve of normal and aged animals and in Schwann cells. The hypothesis has been put forward that glycoprotein Po might be under the control of progestagens acting mainly via the progesterone receptor, and that peripheral myelin protein 22 might be controlled via an interaction of steroids with the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic system. It is known that tetrahydroprogesterone, the 3alpha-5alpha-reduced metabolite of progesterone, interacts with the GABA(A) receptor. Our recent data show that several subunits of this receptor are present in sciatic nerve as well as in Schwann cells that reside in this nerve. These data open multiple possibilities for new therapeutic approaches to demyelinating diseases.

Animals↗

White wheat flour lowers plasma cholesterol and increases cecal steroids relative to whole wheat flour, wheat bran and wheat pollard in rats.

Plasma cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in rats fed a cholesterol-free diet containing white wheat flour than those fed the diet with whole wheat or wheat bran. Concentrations of total bile acids and neutral sterols in cecal digesta were significantly higher in rats fed wheat flour than in those fed whole wheat, wheat pollard or wheat bran. Digesta bile acids and neutral sterol pools correlated negatively with plasma cholesterol, indicating that excretion was regulating plasma concentration. Total cecal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were unaffected by diet but cecal propionate was higher and butyrate lower in rats fed wheat flour than in those fed whole wheat. Cecal digesta butyrate concentrations correlated negatively with the cholesterol metabolite, coprostanol, and with secondary bile acids. Cecal propionate correlated negatively with plasma cholesterol concentration, but butyrate correlated equally positively, suggesting these VFA were indicators rather than regulators of altered cecal steroid metabolism. Effects of white wheat flour on steroid metabolism and cecal VFA resemble those of oat bran and support the observation that wheat flour might be hypocholesterolemic in humans.

Animals↗

Rifampicin may affect estrogen metabolism, Bonn investigator says.

The possible influence of rifampicin on the biogenesis and metabolism of estrogens was reported at the 9th Acta Endocrinologica Congress in Oslo. It is of direct importance to women taking rifampicin and oral contraceptives. Menstrual cycle disturbances have previously been observed in women with tuberculosis who are using drugs. Of 82 patients under treatment with rifampicin and oral contraceptives, 58 experienced menstrual disturbances, reported Dr. Lieselotte Nocke-Finck of the Institute for Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Bonn, West Germany. In contrast, of 26 patients receiving streptomycin and oral contraceptives, only 1 suffered a menstrual alteration. Investigating these clinical observations, Dr. Nocke-Finck studied the urinary excretion of estrogens of patients who received, alternatively during 1 menstrual cycle, either streptomycin or rifampicin. Her results showed that the patients could be divided into 3 groups. The 1st consisted of 5 patients who were treated with rifampicin and experienced spotting. In these 5, the urinary excretion of estrogens was increased up to 10 times. The 2nd group contained 3 patients on rifampicin therapy who had silent menstruation and urinary estrogen excretion that was decreased between 10% and 90%. The 3 patients in the 3rd group showed no menstrual alterations but considerable variation of estrogen excretion.

Biology↗

Intrauterine position effects on steroid metabolism and steroid receptors of reproductive organs in male mice.

Mice differ in their adult reproductive characteristics as a function of whether they developed in utero between two male fetuses (2M males), which have higher testosterone levels, or between two female fetuses (0M males), which have higher estradiol levels. The present study was designed to further characterize biochemical parameters of 2M and 0M adult male mice. Activities of testicular steroidogenic enzymes, namely delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase, 17 alpha-hydroxylase, and C17,20-lyase (C21SCC P450), were measured by means of radiometric assays and HPLC fractionation of substrate and products. Activity of 5 alpha-reductase in both seminal vesicle and prostate was measured by similar techniques. Estrogen and androgen receptor concentrations, which indicate capacity to respond to steroid hormones, were also examined in the accessory sex organs. For both seminal vesicle and prostate, 5 alpha-reductase activities were approximately 60% greater in 2M males than in 0M males, indicating greater capacity to form dihydrotestosterone from testosterone in organs from 2M mice. No significant differences were found in testicular steroidogenic enzymes between 2M and 0M animals, whereas the trend for all three activities was higher for 2M males than for 0M males. While no differences were found in estrogen receptor concentrations, 0M prostates had three times the concentration of androgen receptors (occupied receptors) compared to 2M prostates. Our findings suggest that intrauterine fetal position exerts a significant influence on subsequent adult androgen metabolism and androgen responsiveness in reproductive organs of adult male mice.

Aldehyde-Lyases↗

Physiological and metabolic response to isolated closed-head injury. Part 2: Effects of steroids on metabolism. Potentiation of protein wasting and abnormalities of substrate utilization.

In order to determine the effects of steroid administration on the metabolic response to isolated closed-head injury, a longitudinal study was performed. Metabolic indices were prospectively evaluated for the first 5 days postinjury in six patients who received steroids and 10 patients who did not. Patients were carefully screened to eliminate those with associated injuries as well as those with abnormalities due to sepsis. Other than steroid administration, a uniform treatment regimen was used in both groups. Metabolic indices measured on postinjury Days 1, 3, and 5 were analyzed. In addition, data were compared to results in large data banks obtained both from overnight-fasted patients (fasted controls) and from polytrauma victims (stressed controls). Both treatment groups were comparable with respect to age, mean Glasgow Coma Scale scores on admission and on Day 5, and initial intracranial pressure. Metabolic data indicated significantly higher levels of nitrogen excretion and somatic protein mobilization in steroid-treated patients than in patients not receiving steroids. In both groups, glucose levels, the lactate/pyruvate ratio, and branched-chain amino acid levels (all metabolic indices that correlate well with level of stress) initially corresponded to values for stressed controls. By Day 5, values for these variables were similar to fasted controls for the group not receiving steroids. In patients receiving steroids, however, the data remained similar to those for stressed controls. It is concluded that steroids prolong the metabolic abnormalities associated with the initial phase of head injury. In view of inconclusive data regarding benefit from steroid administration, serious questions must be raised regarding the use of these catabolic agents in this setting.

Adult↗