Vermeulen A, Deslypere J P, Schelfhout W, Verdonck L, Rubens R
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1982 Jan;54(1):187-91. doi: 10.1210/jcem-54-1-187.
To elucidate the controversial point whether, in analogy with delta 5-steroid secretion, adrenal delta 4-steroid secretion is significantly decreased in elderly persons, we studied the response of plasma levels of both delta 5-steroids (dehydroepiandrosterone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, and pregnenolone) and delta 4-steroids (cortisol, androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and progesterone) to acute ACTH stimulation in four groups of young and elderly males and females, respectively. To study the possible influence of sex hormones on adrenocortical function in elderly persons, we performed the same study in male with prostatic carcinoma treated with estrogens. The data show that in elderly persons, the response of plasma delta 4-steroids to ACTH stimulation is comparable or higher than that in young subjects, whereas the response of delta 5-steroids is significantly decreased; estrogen treatment does not change this pattern. It is concluded that in elderly persons adrenal delta 4-steroid secretory capacity is unimpaired, whereas delta 5-steroid secretion is significantly decreased. The responsible mechanism remains to be elucidated.
为了阐明与δ5-类固醇分泌类似，老年人肾上腺δ4-类固醇分泌是否显著减少这一有争议的问题，我们分别研究了四组年轻和老年男性及女性中，血浆δ5-类固醇（脱氢表雄酮、17-羟孕烯醇酮和孕烯醇酮）和δ4-类固醇（皮质醇、雄烯二酮、17-羟孕酮和孕酮）水平对急性促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）刺激的反应。为了研究性激素对老年人肾上腺皮质功能的可能影响，我们对接受雌激素治疗的前列腺癌男性进行了同样的研究。数据显示，在老年人中，血浆δ4-类固醇对ACTH刺激的反应与年轻受试者相当或更高，而δ5-类固醇的反应则显著降低；雌激素治疗并未改变这种模式。结论是，在老年人中，肾上腺δ4-类固醇分泌能力未受损，而δ5-类固醇分泌显著减少。其相关机制仍有待阐明。
