Sex Steroid Levels in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum Samples Quantified by Mass Spectrometry in Men

This study validated a sensitive GC-MS/MS assay to quantify sex steroid hormones in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum from 47 men, revealing that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the predominant sex steroid in CSF, while testosterone is most abundant in serum. The research found strong correlations between CSF and serum levels for most steroids, except estradiol (E2), suggesting that testosterone in CSF primarily comes from circulating testosterone, whereas DHT and E2 result from local conversion within the CNS. The study emphasizes the importance of mass spectrometric assays for accurate measurement of sex steroids in CSF and suggests that future research should include broader panels and diverse populations to better understand sex steroid dynamics in the CNS.