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Effect of prenatal hormonal levels on human sexual orientation
Freudenfeld, Petr ; Havlíček, Jan (advisor) ; Kubička, Lukáš (referee)
Sexual orientation is extensively studied topic nevertheless its etiology remains unclear. Several theories have been proposed to explain it. One of them is Neurohormonal theory of homosexuality. According to this theory, sexual orientation is affected by prenatal levels of androgen hormones. This thesis includes selected studies of experimental manipulations with prenatal levels of hormones in model mammalian species to explain effects of these hormones. Main part of the thesis focuses on the effect of prenatal androgens in humans using somatic biomarkers, for example 2D:4D digit ratio. Studies concerning sex, age and ethnic differences are described in detail. Great attention is dedicated to studies of sexual orientation. In women it seems that sexual orientation could be influenced by prenatal hormones, in men this theory isn't supported. This thesis summarizes and critically evaluates available literature concerning the effects of prenatal hormones on human sexual orientation.
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Metabolic syndrome and steroid spectrum
Pospíšilová, Hana ; Stárka, Luboslav (advisor) ; Hána, Václav (referee) ; Fingerová, Helena (referee)
Sex steroids influence the storing of fat, and differences in the distribution of fat are a typical secondary sexual characteristic. Androgens act on fatty tissues in males either directly through stimulation of the androgen receptor or indirectly through aromatization of the estrogen receptor. Androgens can be classified as aromatizable or non-aromatizable. Testosterone (T) is the main aromatizable androgen, while its metabolite dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a non-aromatizable androgen that acts only through the androgen receptor. It is precisely this difference in having activity only through the androgen receptor that has given rise to the hypothesis concerning the differing effects of DHT and T on body composition, with DHT possibly being responsible for male-type fat distribution. As part of my post-graduate studies we analyzed the dependence serum levels of T and DHT on age, as well as changes in their ratio with age. Further, we sought relationships between aromatizable and non-aromatizable androgens and metabolic and anthropometric parameters. We also focused on following any changes in steroidogenesis in obese males. We showed that before puberty the dominant androgen is rather DHT than T, that the fDHT/fT ratio during the life of adult males is constant, and that there is no evidence of a reversal...
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Metabolic syndrome and steroid spectrum
Pospíšilová, Hana ; Stárka, Luboslav (advisor) ; Hána, Václav (referee) ; Fingerová, Helena (referee)
Sex steroids influence the storing of fat, and differences in the distribution of fat are a typical secondary sexual characteristic. Androgens act on fatty tissues in males either directly through stimulation of the androgen receptor or indirectly through aromatization of the estrogen receptor. Androgens can be classified as aromatizable or non-aromatizable. Testosterone (T) is the main aromatizable androgen, while its metabolite dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a non-aromatizable androgen that acts only through the androgen receptor. It is precisely this difference in having activity only through the androgen receptor that has given rise to the hypothesis concerning the differing effects of DHT and T on body composition, with DHT possibly being responsible for male-type fat distribution. As part of my post-graduate studies we analyzed the dependence serum levels of T and DHT on age, as well as changes in their ratio with age. Further, we sought relationships between aromatizable and non-aromatizable androgens and metabolic and anthropometric parameters. We also focused on following any changes in steroidogenesis in obese males. We showed that before puberty the dominant androgen is rather DHT than T, that the fDHT/fT ratio during the life of adult males is constant, and that there is no evidence of a reversal...
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Selected differences in pathophysiology of cardiovascular system in women
Yang, Shiann-Guey ; Kittnar, Otomar (advisor) ; Ošťádal, Petr (referee) ; Danzig, Vilém (referee)
(summary of doctoral dissertation) It has become increasingly apparent in recent years that there are important differences of many cardiovascular disorders including ventricular tachycardias in men and women. Gender differences have been observed in the epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical presentation of various ventricular arrhythmias. Physiological menopause occurs as a part of a woman's normal aging process being based on the natural cessation of estradiol and progesterone production by the ovaries. The dramatic fall in circulating estrogens levels at menopause impacts many tissues including cardiovascular system. Because the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) rises significantly after menopause, it has been hypothesized that women's CHD advantage before menopause (in comparison to men of the same age) could be due to the protective effects of estrogens. However, controversial results have been reported since early nineties until today. While some studies found reduction in the incidence of CHD and in mortality from cardiovascular diseases some other studies failed to provide any evidence for an independent role of estradiol levels in determining CHD in postmenopausal women and some studies even found positive association of endogenous estradiol with the risk of CHD among women above...
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