A comparative study of steroid concentrations in human adipose tissue and the peripheral circulation

• Published in: Clinica chimica acta Vol. 126; no. 2; pp. 135 - 141
• Main Authors: Fehér, T., Bodrogi, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 09.12.1982
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Androstenedione - metabolism; Dehydroepiandrosterone - metabolism; Estrogens - metabolism; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - blood; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - metabolism; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Hydrocortisone - metabolism; Hydroxyprogesterones - metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity - metabolism; Progesterone - blood; Progesterone - metabolism; Testosterone - metabolism
• ISSN: 0009-8981; 1873-3492
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-8981(82)90029-8

Using radioimmunological methods, levels of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, oestrogens (oestradiol + oestrone), progesterone and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone were determined in adipose tissue and peripheral blood obtained during surgical treatment of patients with non-endocrine diseases. The steroid content of human adipose tissue was observed to be extremely high relative to that in the general circulation, giving a tissue/serum ratio of 0.4 to 13.2. The concentration of steroids decreased in the following order: dehydroepiandrosterone > cortisol > androstenedione > progesterone > testosterone > 17α-hydroxyprogesterone > oestradiol + oestrone. This sequence is different from that found in blood. When anthropometrie variables were taken into consideration, the adipose tissue mass of severely obese subjects contained a steroid pool far greater than that in the total blood volume.