SEX-DIFFERENCES IN DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE METABOLISM IN THE RAT - DIFFERENT PLASMA-LEVELS FOLLOWING INGESTION OF DHEA-SUPPLEMENTED DIET ANDDIFFERENT METABOLITE PATTERNS IN PLASMA, BILE AND URINE

Plasma dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate levels were dete rmined by an enzyme immunoassay in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats fed a diet containing 0.6% or 0.3% DHEA. A significant difference in DHEA plasma levels was observed in male and female animals. In male ra ts, total DHEA plasma concentrations were found in the range of 0.4-1. 5 mu g/ml (0.6% DHEA chow) and 0.3-0.5 mu g/ml (0.3% DHEA chow). In fe male animals several times higher DHEA plasma levels were determined: 17.5-33 mu g/ml (0.6% DHEA chow) and 8.3 -14.8 mu g/ml (0.3% DHEA chow ). DHEA was present in rat plasma of both sexes preferably as the sulf ate conjugate. Significant sex differences were also found in the DHEA metabolite patterns obtained by TLC separation of extracts from plasm a, bile and urine following administration of H-3-DHEA. In female rats , DHEA is present predominantly as the sulfate conjugate in considerab le amounts in all materials investigated, whereas in male rats polar m etabolites dominate in the patterns.