80 citations,
January 2011 in “Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM)” The study validated the correlation between cortisol levels in 1-cm hair segments and salivary cortisol in healthy humans, confirming that hair cortisol can serve as an endogenous biomarker for long-term hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal activity. Salivary cortisol levels were collected at three different times and compared with hair cortisol levels measured 4 weeks later. Significant correlations were found between salivary cortisol at different times and between hair cortisol and average salivary cortisol, supporting the hypothesis that blood-related diffusion is a biologically endogenous source of hair cortisol.
197 citations,
January 2019 in “Neuropsychopharmacology” Male and female bodies respond differently to stress, influenced by hormones and development stages, with implications for stress-related diseases.
32 citations,
February 2024 in “Growth Hormone & IGF Research” Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) stops hair growth in mice by lowering a growth factor important for hair.
18 citations,
March 2020 in “Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology” The enzymes 5α-reductase and 3α/β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase help create brain-active substances from progesterone and testosterone, which could be used for treatment, but more research is needed to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
This study examined the effects of neurosteroids on oxytocin (OT) secretion in 36 luteal-phase and pregnant sheep under basal and stress conditions. Allopregnanolone (AL) was found to inhibit stress-induced OT secretion in non-pregnant sheep, while blocking neurosteroid synthesis with finasteride increased both basal and stress-induced OT secretion in pregnant sheep. The results suggest that neurosteroids play a crucial role in regulating OT secretion, particularly under stress and pregnancy conditions, potentially protecting the fetus from premature labor.