Pregnenolone ELISA

Summary

Pregnenolone is the first steroid to be derived from cholesterol in the pathway of steroidogenesis, and it is the common precursor for all of the adrenal and gonadal steroids. Its production occurs in the mitochondrion by cleavage of the C-20 side chain of cholesterol by the P-450SCC enzyme. Elevated pregnenolone levels occur in forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The determination of pregnenolone in serum may be useful for studying its metabolite, pregnenolone sulfate, which has been reported to have various effects in the mammalian brain and central nervous system.

Research topic

Steroid hormones

Assay format

Competitive ELISA, Immobilized antigen

Applications

Serum

Sample requirements

50 μl

Storage/Shipping

2–8 °C

Calibration Curve

Calibration range

0.1 – 25 ng/ml

Limit of detection

0.05 ng/ml

References to summary

• Abraham GE, Buster JE, Kyle FW, Corrales PC, Teller RC. Radioimmunoassay of plasma pregnenolone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1973 Jul;37 (1):40-5
• Akwa Y, Young J, Kabbadj K, Sancho MJ, Zucman D, Vourc'h C, Jung-Testas I, Hu ZY, Le Goascogne C, Jo DH, et al. Neurosteroids: biosynthesis, metabolism and function of pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone in the brain. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1991;40 (1-3):71-81
• Brown RD, McKenna TJ. Pregnenolone in man: plasma levels in states of normal and abnormal steroidogenesis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1974 Mar;38 (3):480-5
• Lauer CC, Ubelacker L, Check JH. Falsely elevated steroidal assay levels related to heterophile antibodies against various animal species. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 1995;40 (2):139-40
• Liddle GW, Miller RB, McKenna TJ. Plasma pregnenolone and 17-OH-pregnenolone in patients with adrenal tumors, ACTH excess, or idiopathic hirsutism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1977 Feb;44 (2):231-6
• McKenna TJ, Jennings AS, Liddle GW, Burr IM. Pregnenolone, 17-OH-pregnenolone, and testosterone in plasma of patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1976 May;42 (5):918-25
• Robel P, Young J, Corpechot C, Mayo W, Perche F, Haug M, Simon H, Baulieu EE. Biosynthesis and assay of neurosteroids in rats and mice: functional correlates. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1995 Jun;53 (1-6):355-60
• Starka L, Pouzar V, Hampl R, Sulcova J, Lapcik O, Lukac D, Hill M. Age relationships and sex differences in serum levels of pregnenolone and 17-hydroxypregnenolone in healthy subjects. Clin Chem Lab Med. 1999 Apr;37 (4):439-47
• Weusten JJ, Benraad TJ, Kloppenborg PW, Smals AG, Hofman JA. Early time sequence in pregnenolone metabolism to testosterone in homogenates of human and rat testis. Endocrinology. 1987 May;120 (5):1909-13
• Wilson JD, Foster DW. Textbook of Endocrinology 8th Edition. W.B. Saunders Company. pp 495-497, 1992;

By research topic:

• Steroid hormones

By molecule:

• Pregnenolone

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