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Horm Metab Res 2008; 40(11): 819-826
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1082042
Humans, Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Enzyme Immunoassay of Testosterone, 17β-Estradiol, and Progesterone in Perspiration and Urine of Preadolescents and Young Adults: Exceptional Levels in Men's Axillary Perspiration

C. C. Muir 1 , K. Treasurywala 2 , S. McAllister 1 , J. Sutherland 1 , L. Dukas 2 , R. G. Berger 2 , A. Khan 2 , D. deCatanzaro 2
  • 1Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
  • 2Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Further Information

Publication History

received 11.01.2008

accepted 03.04.2008

Publication Date:
18 August 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Enzyme immunoassays for testosterone, 17β-estradiol, and progesterone were validated for human facial and axillary perspiration and compared to levels in urine. In study 1, these assays were applied to samples from preadolescent girls and boys and young women and men. Men's axillary perspiration contained substantially higher levels of steroids than seen in other substrates from men or in any sample from women, boys, and girls. Male axillary steroid levels were very variable across individuals, and on average they exceeded levels in facial perspiration by 90-fold for testosterone and 45-fold for estradiol. Men's urinary testosterone also exceeded urinary levels of the other subjects. In study 2, axillary perspiration, urine, and saliva were collected from young men. Substantial axillary levels of testosterone and estradiol were again observed. Correlations of the same hormone among the different substrates were generally very low, except for a small correlation between estradiol levels measured in axillary perspiration and urine in study 2. High unconjugated steroid content in men's axillary excretions could, if absorbed by women during intimacy, be implicated in pheromonal activity.

Key words

perspiration - axillary - urine - testosterone - 17β-estradiol - progesterone - pheromones

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Correspondence

C. C. Muir

Centre for Neuroscience

Department of Psychology

Brock University

St. Catharines

Ontario L2S 3A1

Canada

Email: cmuir@brocku.ca