[Change of serum amyloid P component concentrations in women].

Serum amyloid P component (SAP) is a glycoprotein which was shown to be deposited in periarterial tissues and the glomerular basement membrane. It plays a part in aging, and the onset of amyloidosis and Alzheimer's disease. In order to investigate the effects of sex steroids on the SAP level in menopausal women, SAP was purified. Anti-SAP was raised through the immunization of rabbits. The SAP level was assayed by micro single radial immunodiffusion. The SAP levels increased with aging from 1.1 +/- 0.8mg/dl (mean +/- S.D.) to 5.08 +/- 1.31mg/dl in women. And the SAP level in males was significantly higher in the 15 to 50 year age group than in females of similar ages (p < 0.001). And in the menstrual cycle, the SAP concentrations were significantly higher in the menstrual period (p < 0.05). During hormonal therapy in climacteric women, the SAP levels decreased significantly (p < 0.001) after Premarin treatment (from 5.66 +/- 1.45mg/dl to 4.15 +/- 0.94 mg/dl) and increased (p < 0.001) after dehydroepiandrosterone therapy (from 4.00 +/- 0.74mg/dl to 6.07 +/- 1.14mg/dl). From these findings, the SAP levels in human were concluded to be age dependently increased, and higher in the menstrual period. And it is suggested that a sex difference in SAP is concerned with the effect of estrogen fluctuation.