Circulating neuroactive C21- and C19-steroids in young men before and after ejaculation

• Published in: Physiological research Vol. 55; no. 4; pp. 429 - 436
• Main Authors: Stárka, L, Hill, M, Havlíková, H, Kancheva, L, Sobotka, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Czech Republic 2006
• Subjects: 17-alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone - blood; Adult; Androgens - blood; Androstenedione - blood; Dehydroepiandrosterone - blood; Ejaculation - physiology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Male; Orgasm - physiology; Pregnanolone - blood; Testosterone - blood
• ISSN: 0862-8408; 1802-9973
• DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.930829

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