Advances in Steroid Biochemistry and Pharmacology

ContributorsCellular Biochemical Assessment of Steroid Activity I. Introduction: The Possible Cellular Biochemical Effects of Steroids A. Direct Effect on Enzymes B. Indirect Effect on Enzymes C. The Role of Cellular (Multiphase) Biochemistry II. Methods of Cellular Biochemistry A. Methods of Preparing and Reacting the Specimen B. Quantitation C. Culture Methods III. Cellular Biochemical Measurement of Direct Effects of Steroids A. Types 1 and 2 NADPH Pathways in Sections IV. Indirect Effects A. Endoplasmic Reticulum B. Effects on Mitochondria C. Effect on Lysosomes D. Effect on Plasma Membrane and Oedema V. Conclusions Acknowledgement ReferencesDaily Rhythms of Steroid and Associated Pituitary Hormones in Man and Their Relationship to Sleep I. Introduction II. Sleep A. Historical Introduction B. Methods of Studying Sleep C. The Measurement of Sleep D. Physiological Basis of Sleep III. Circadian Rhythm of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis A. General Features of the Rhythm B. Regulation of the Circadian Rhythm of the HPA Axis C. Synchronizers of the HPA Circadian Rhythm D. Alterations of the HPA Circadian Rhythm in Disease IV. Secretion of Growth Hormone (GH) A. Relation of GH Secretion to Sleep B. Metabolic Correlates of Sleep-Associated GH Release C. Effect of Steroids and Drugs on Nocturnal GH Release D. Sleep-Related GH Release in Certain Pathological States V. The Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) Axis A. General Observations on Sleep Relationships of HPG Secretion VI. Conclusion ReferencesChemistry and Biological Activity of Vitamin D, its Metabolites and Analogs I. Introduction II. History of the Experiments Conducted on the Metabolism of Vitamin D3 A. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-D3) B. Biologically Active Metabolites more Polar than 25-OH-D3 C. Isolation and Identification of Plasma Metabolites D. Role of Kidney in Vitamin D Metabolism E. Isolation and Identification of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) F. Isolation and Identification of 24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (24,25-(OH)2D3) G. Metabolism of 1,25-(OH)2D3 H. The Discrimination of Birds and New World Monkeys Between Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 III. Feed-Back Regulation of 25-OH-D3 Metabolism to 1,25-(OH)2D3 or 24,25-(OH)2D3 A. Role of Dietary and Serum Calcium B. Parathyroid Hormone, Calcitonin and Cyclic AMP C. Role of Inorganic Phosphate IV. Chemical Synthesis of Vitamin D3, Analogs and Metabolites A. Complete Synthesis of Vitamin D3 and Previtamin D3 B. Synthesis of 25-OH-D3 C. Chemical Synthesis of 1a,25-(OH)2D3 and 1a-OH-D3 V. Biologically Active Analogs of Vitamin D A. Metabolism and Biological Activity of Dihydrotachysterol B. Isomers of Vitamin D3 C. Isotachysterol and Iso-Vitamin D3 D. Side-Chain Analogs of Vitamin D VI. Tools for Isolation and Identification of Vitamin D Metabolites A. Mass Spectrometry of Vitamin D and its Metabolites B. Mass Spectrometry of Various Isomers of Vitamin D3 C. Ultraviolet Absorption Spectrophotometry for Vitamin D its Isomers D. Gas-Liquid Chromatography for Vitamin D and Analogs E. Chromatography of the Polar Metabolites of 25-OH-D3 F. The Use of NMR for Identifying Vitamin D Metabolites VII. Discussion Acknowledgement ReferencesEffects of Corticosteroids on Connective Tissue and Fibroblasts I. Introduction II. The Connective Tissue A. Morphology of Fibroblasts B. Collagen C. Ground Substance III. Experimental Techniques and Findings A.