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CURRENT STATE OF THE FIELD...
LACK OF HORMONE MEASUREMENTS IN RODENT STUDIES
Measuring steroids are difficult - particularly in rodents due to low steroid concentrations for most analytes.
Limitations in sensitive and precise methodologies have limited the measurement of steroids in rodent experiments
This has resulted in the use of supraphysiological doses of steroids being administered, particularly estradiol, in basic science studies.
How do we move the field forward? Regular and accurate measurements of steroids. This is what we hope to accomplish.
THINGS TO CONSIDER....
SEX STEROID FLUCTUATIONS IN FEMALES
If examining sex steroids in females, have you accounted for the stage of the estrous cycle when collecting samples?
This is important as others, including ourselves, have shown significant changes in circulating and tissue sex steroids during the estrous cycle.
We have shown that tissue sex steroid content is typically higher on a per gram basis in tissue than in serum/plasma. You may want to think about measuring steroids in your tissue particularly if estradiol is your primary steroid of interest.
SEX STEROID FLUCTUATIONS IN MALES
Collaborators are commonly shocked at how much androgen levels fluctuate in male rodents. Large day-to-day and intraday fluctuations (as much as 20x) in male rodents are normal.
SAMPLE VOLUME
The more the better!
While our instrument sensitivity is state-of-the-art, limits in sample volume hinder our ability to measure hard to detect steroids like estradiol (E2). Contact Dr. Enos for guidance on this.
WHAT CAN WE MEASURE IN RODENTS?
WHAT WE LOOK FOR:
Aldosterone (Highly Detectable; LOQ of 0.5 pg)
Androstenedione (Highly Detectable; LOQ of 0.5 pg)
Corticosterone (Highly Detectable; LOQ of 0.5 pg)
Cortisol (Difficult to Detect; LOQ of 0.5 pg)
11-Deoxycortisol (LOQ of 5 pg)
11-Deoxycorticosterone (Highly Detectable; LOQ of 0.25 pg)
DHT (Difficult to Detect but Detectible; LOQ of 10 pg)
E1 (Estrone) (Difficult to Detect but Detectible; LOQ of 0.25 pg)
E2 (Estradiol) (Difficult to Detect but Detectible; LOQ of 0.25 pg)
E3 (Estriol) (Difficult to Detect; LOQ of 0.25 pg)
Progesterone (Highly Detectable; LOQ of 0.5 pg)
Testosterone (Highly Detectable; LOQ of 0.5 pg)
LOQ = Limit of Quantification in 200 uL of charcoal-stripped serum
Please note that detectability of a given steroid is dependent on treatment (e.g. hormone replacement therapy, gonadectomy, etc.) and sample volume. Steroids that are highly detectable are often detected regardless of treatment.
If there are additional steroids you are interested in measuring and they aren't on this list we can try and measure it for you - just let us know!
Please complete the sample inquiry form below and email Dr. Enos directly at enosr@email.sc.edu with questions regarding pricing:
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