Parameters of adrenal steroidogenesis in reproductive age females with obesity

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to characterize and assess the quantitative parameters of the basic spectrum of steroid hormones and their precursors circulating in the peripheral blood of obese women and to reveal differences in the ratio of glucocorticoids, min-eralocorticoids, and adrenal androgens in obesity complicated and uncomplicated by sustained hypertension. Thirty women with obesity were examined and divided into 2 groups: 1) those with obesity and arterial hypertension (AH); 2) those with obesity without AH. A control group comprised 14 apparently healthy normotensive individuals with normal body mass index. The serum concentrations of Cortisol, dehydroeplandrosterone and its sulfate, 17alfa-hydroxyprogesterone, 17alfa-hydroxypregnenolone, 11-deoxycortosol, corticosterone, and aldosterone were measured by the standardized radioimmunoassay. There was a steady sig-nificant increase in the concentrations of circulating aldosterone and cortlcosterone and a reduction in adrenal androgens and pre-cursors (11-deoxycortosol and 17-hydroxy derivatives). The changes in steroid secretion were more marked in hypertensive patients. The authors attempted to assess the activity of enzymatic systems of the concentrations of the study steroids. They found that the activities of 11betta- and 18-hydroxylase, 3-olsteroid dehydrogenase and sulfatase were increased whereas the activity of 21-hydroxylase was decreased and that of 17,20-desmolase (P₄₅₀c17) was in the normal range.