DHEA-S
DHEA-S is the sulfated analog of DHEA. Like DHEA, it is produced largely in the adrenal cortex in response to ACTH. Circulating levels of DHEA-S are much higher, however, with concentrations 250 and 500 times higher than those of DHEA in women and men, respectively. DHEA-S has a longer half-life and is cleared from the blood more slowly than DHEA. DHEA-S does not display the diurnal rhythm found in DHEA and cortisol. It is generally believed that DHEA-S serves largely as a circulating precursor that is metabolized first into DHEA, which is then further converted to other androgens and estrogens in various peripheral tissues. DHEA-S is also synthesized in the central nervous system, where it appears to serve a protective function. Due to the charge from its sulfate group, DHEA-S cannot diffuse through the neutral cell membranes like most steroids, and only small percentage of the molecules in blood are able to enter the saliva glands by squeezing through the tight spaces between cells. Because DHEA-S is so plentiful in the bloodstream, however, the levels in saliva are high enough to measure. Because of the difficulty DHEA-S has in entering saliva, its levels fall as saliva flow increases. Measurements of DHEA-S must therefore be expressed in relation to the flow rate.
Salimetrics DHEA-S Kit Specifications
| Target Analyte: | DHEA-S |
| Catalog number: | 1-1252, (Single) 96-well kit 1-1252-5, (5-pack) 480 wells |
| Testing protocol: | Download PDF * Protocol updated 12-09-10 |
| Format: | 96-well plate |
| Type: | Quantitation |
| Method: | EIA |
| Calibrator range: | 188.9 – 15,300 pg/mL |
| Sensitivity: | 43 pg/mL |
| Saliva volume/test: | 100 µL |
| Incubation time: | 1.5 hours |
| Tests per kit: | 78 (singlets) |
| Correlation with serum: | to be determined |
| Controls included in kit? | Yes |
| MSDS sheets: | Available upon request |
