Circulating neuroactive C21- and C19-steroids in young men before and after ejaculation.

Summary Twelve neuroactive and neuroprotective steroids, androgens and androgen precursors i.e. 3α,17β-dihydroxy-5αandrostane, 3α-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one, 3α-hydroxy-5β-androstan-17-one, androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol, 3β,17αdihydroxy-pregn-5-en-20-one (17α-hydroxy-pregnenolone), 3β-hydroxy-androst-5-en-17-one (dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA), testosterone, androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (androstenedione), 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (allopregnanolone), 3β-hydroxy-pregn-5-en-20-one (pregnenolone), 7α-hydroxy-DHEA, and 7β-hydroxy-DHEA were measured using the GC-MS system in young men before and after ejaculation provoked by masturbation. The circulating level of 17αhydroxypregnenolone increased significantly, whereas the levels of other circulating steroids did not change at all. This fact speaks against the hypothesis that a decrease in the level of neuroactive steroids, e.g. allopregnanolone, may trigger the orgasm-related increase of oxytocin as it was reported by other authors.