Radioimmunoassay of 5-androstene-3 beta,17 beta-diol in plasma and in breast cyst fluid.

A simple and reliable radioimmunoassay for the determination of 5-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol in peripheral plasma and in breast cyst fluid, after a chromatography on Celite microcolumn has been described and evaluated. The antiserum used was raised in rabbits injected with dehydroepiandrosterone-15 alpha-(O-carboxymethyl)-bovine serum albumin. In men below 40 years of age the levels ranged from 0.85 to 2.80 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM: 1.52 +/- 0.11; n = 24) and from 0.50 to 2.20 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM: 0.93 +/- 0.09; n = 20) in men aged between 41 and 62 years. The mean level was significantly different (P less than 0.001) between the 2 groups. A significant correlation (r = -0.56; P less than 0.01) was demonstrated between age and all male levels. In females the mean plasma level was in the follicular phase: 0.81 +/- 0.07 ng/ml (range: 0.40-1.50; n = 17; age: 19-41 years) and in the luteal phase: 0.83 +/- 0.05 ng/ml (range: 0.40-1.30; n = 29; age: 18-43 years). No cyclical change and no correlation with age could be evidenced. A significant difference (P less than 0.001) was shown between females and the young male group. In breast cyst fluid the levels ranged from 0.05 to 13.70 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM: 2.36 +/- 0.86; n = 20) whereas the sulfate concentrations ranged from 75 to 7500 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM: 1891 +/- 565; n = 15), thus demonstrating very wide inter-individual variations.