[Nature of changes in the level of steroid hormones and their precursors in peripheral blood of Papio monkeys under stress].

The radioimmunological method was applied to determination of changes in the peripheral blood plasma level of 12 steroids in male Papio hamadryas under immobilization and surgical stress. Androgen content decreased, and the concentration of steroid hormone precursors and hydrocortisone blood plasma content rose in response to stress. These changes were in contraphase with the circadian steroid rhythms. The most objective and sensitive criteria of the stress situation evaluation were decrease of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone level, increase of pregnenolone concentration, as well as of 17-alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone in the blood plasma.