Comparative analysis of neurosteroid levels in normal and adenomatous human pituitary tissue.

Neurosteroids (NS) are neuroactive steroid hormones, synthesized in the nervous system. Prior research on NSs in pituitary tissue relied on animal investigations. The complete knowledge regarding the presence of these distinct hormones in the human pituitary gland is lacking. The objective of this study was to examine the presence of NS in tissue samples from human pituitary adenomas (PA) and how it differs from normal pituitary tissue (NPT). In this cross-sectional comparative study, 74 samples from human PAs, collected during transsphenoidal surgery and, 19 NPT, collected from age and sex matched cadavers, were included. The presence and concentrations of 17 different NS were examined by using the liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry in both PA tissue and preoperative blood samples of the individuals with PA. Tissue specimens were compared with those from NPT. Levels of Pregnenolone, 7α-Hydroxypregnenolone, androsterone, progesterone, and 17-Hydroxyprogesterone were higher in PA samples in comparison to NPT(p < 0.001,p = 0.004,p = 0.007,p = 0.04 and p = 0.007,respectively). Levels of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), corticosterone and cortisol were higher in NPT (p = 0.01, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The detection of corticosterone, 17OHPRG, and PRG, increased concentrations of DHEAS and cortisol, favors the identification of the tissue as an NPT rather than PA. The levels of NS in the PA group also varied based on hormonal status and differences in sex. Of the NS in PA, only tissue levels of DHEAS, 17-Hydroxyprogesterone and cortisol were positively correlated with their blood levels (r = + 0.6, p < 0.001; r = + 0.7, p = 0.005 and r = + 0.4, p < 0.001, respectively). NS is present both in PAs and in NPT without adenomas. The quantity and varieties of NS in PAs are impacted by the hormonal status of the PA and sex of the subjects. NS could be involved in the regulation of pituitary hormones and the development of adenomas.