Advances in Steroid Biochemistry and Pharmacology

Contributors

Cellular Biochemical Assessment of Steroid Activity

I. Introduction: The Possible Cellular Biochemical Effects of Steroids

A. Direct Effect on Enzymes

B. Indirect Effect on Enzymes

C. The Role of Cellular (Multiphase) Biochemistry

II. Methods of Cellular Biochemistry

A. Methods of Preparing and Reacting the Specimen

B. Quantitation

C. Culture Methods

III. Cellular Biochemical Measurement of Direct Effects of Steroids

A. Types 1 and 2 NADPH Pathways in Sections

IV. Indirect Effects

A. Endoplasmic Reticulum

B. Effects on Mitochondria

C. Effect on Lysosomes

D. Effect on Plasma Membrane and Oedema

V. Conclusions

Acknowledgement

References

Daily Rhythms of Steroid and Associated Pituitary Hormones in Man and Their Relationship to Sleep

I. Introduction

II. Sleep

A. Historical Introduction

B. Methods of Studying Sleep

C. The Measurement of Sleep

D. Physiological Basis of Sleep

III. Circadian Rhythm of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis

A. General Features of the Rhythm

B. Regulation of the Circadian Rhythm of the HPA Axis

C. Synchronizers of the HPA Circadian Rhythm

D. Alterations of the HPA Circadian Rhythm in Disease

IV. Secretion of Growth Hormone (GH)

A. Relation of GH Secretion to Sleep

B. Metabolic Correlates of Sleep-Associated GH Release

C. Effect of Steroids and Drugs on Nocturnal GH Release

D. Sleep-Related GH Release in Certain Pathological States

V. The Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) Axis

A. General Observations on Sleep Relationships of HPG Secretion

VI. Conclusion

References

Chemistry and Biological Activity of Vitamin D, its Metabolites and Analogs

I. Introduction

II. History of the Experiments Conducted on the Metabolism of Vitamin D3

A. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-D3)

B. Biologically Active Metabolites more Polar than 25-OH-D3

C. Isolation and Identification of Plasma Metabolites

D. Role of Kidney in Vitamin D Metabolism

E. Isolation and Identification of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3)

F. Isolation and Identification of 24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24,25-(OH)2D3)

G. Metabolism of 1,25-(OH)2D3

H. The Discrimination of Birds and New World Monkeys Between Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3

III. Feed-Back Regulation of 25-OH-D3 Metabolism to 1,25-(OH)2D3 or 24,25-(OH)2D3

A. Role of Dietary and Serum Calcium

B. Parathyroid Hormone, Calcitonin and Cyclic AMP

C. Role of Inorganic Phosphate

IV. Chemical Synthesis of Vitamin D3, Analogs and Metabolites

A. Complete Synthesis of Vitamin D3 and Previtamin D3

B. Synthesis of 25-OH-D3

C. Chemical Synthesis of 1α,25-(OH)2D3 and 1α-OH-D3

V. Biologically Active Analogs of Vitamin D

A. Metabolism and Biological Activity of Dihydrotachysterol

B. Isomers of Vitamin D3

C. Isotachysterol and Iso-Vitamin D3

D. Side-Chain Analogs of Vitamin D

VI. Tools for Isolation and Identification of Vitamin D Metabolites

A. Mass Spectrometry of Vitamin D and its Metabolites

B. Mass Spectrometry of Various Isomers of Vitamin D3

C. Ultraviolet Absorption Spectrophotometry for Vitamin D its Isomers

D. Gas-Liquid Chromatography for Vitamin D and Analogs

E. Chromatography of the Polar Metabolites of 25-OH-D3

F. The Use of NMR for Identifying Vitamin D Metabolites

VII. Discussion

Acknowledgement

References

Effects of Corticosteroids on Connective Tissue and Fibroblasts

I. Introduction

II. The Connective Tissue

A. Morphology of Fibroblasts

B. Collagen

C. Ground Substance

III. Experimental Techniques and Findings

A. Steroid Inhibition of Fibroblast Growth

B. Steroid Enhancement of Fibroblast Growth

C. Intracellular Localization of Steroid Hormones

D. Steroid Effects on Ground Substances and Collagen Synthesis

E. Steroid Effects on the Cell Cycle

F. Effects of Steroids on Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

G. Steroid Hormones and Cell Enzymes

IV. Conclusions

References

Interactions Between the Prostaglandins and Steroid Hormones

I. Introduction

II. Effect of Prostaglandins on Steroid Production

A. Effect of Prostaglandins on the Hypothalamus

B. Effect of Prostaglandins on the Anterior Pituitary

C. Effect of Prostaglandins on Steroid Biosynthesis

III. Effect of Prostaglandins on Steroid Action

IV. Effect of Prostaglandins on Steroid Metabolism

V. Effect of Steroids on Prostaglandin Dynamics

VI. Conclusions

References

Steroid Hormones and Breast Cancer

I. Introduction

II. The Examination of Human Breast Tumours in Tissue Culture

III. Ablation Procedures

A. Castration

B. Adrenalectomy

C. Chemical Inhibition of the Adrenal Cortex

D. Hypophysectomy

E. Chemical Hypophysectomy

IV. Prediction of Response to Endocrine Surgery

A. The Discriminant Factor

B. The Estimation of Hormone Binding Sites

V. Additive Therapy

A. Oestrogen Treatment

B. Androgen Therapy

C. Adrenal Corticosteroids

D. Progestogens

VI. Cancer of the Male Breast

VII. The Immunological Treatment of Breast Cancer

VIII. Conclusion

References

Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone and the Control of Adrenal Corticosteroidogenesis

I. Introduction

II. ACTH Receptor

III. Cholesterol Metabolism in the Adrenal Cortex

IV. Adenosine 3′,5′-Cyclic Monophosphate (Cyclic AMP)

A. Haynes—Berthet Hypothesis

B. Adenyl Cyclase

C. Phosphodiesterase

D. Evidence for the Intermediary Role of Cyclic AMP

E. Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein and Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Phosphokinase

V. The Involvement of NADPH in ACTH Action

A. Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase

B. Exogenous NADPH

VI. The Regulation of Pregnenolone Synthesis

A. Koritz−Hall Hypothesis

B. Mitochondrial Permeability

VII. The Role of Protein and RNA Synthesis

A. Studies Involving Antibiotic Inhibitors of Protein Synthesis

B. Protein Synthesis in the Absence of Antibiotics

C. RNA Synthesis

Acknowledgements

References

Note Added in Proof

Author Index

Subject Index

Cumulative Index of Titles