Testosterone is the prototypic and predominant circulating androgenic steroid. It plays a major role in the growth and function of many reproductive and non-reproductive tissues and organs including muscle, liver, and brain, directing the development of the male phenotype during embryogenesis and…

For the quantification of TXB₂ in urine, serum, tissue culture supernatants, and other sample matrices Sensitivity (80% B/B0): 5 pg/ml Assay Range: 1.6-1,000 pg/ml Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) is produced from arachidonic acid by many cells and causes irreversible platelet…

11-KT is a second key androgenic steroid found in fish. It occurs in males together with testosterone in amounts which vary from less than 1 ng/ml to as much as 50-100 ng/ml, depending on the species and the stage of the reproductive cycle.

11β-PGF2α is the primary plasma metabolite of PGD2 in vivo, the levels of which can increase from 6 pg/ml in a normal healthy volunteer to 490 ng/ml in patients with systemic mastocytosis. The normal human urinary excretion of 11β-PGF2α is about 11 ng/mmol creatinine (~400…

Cayman’s Cortisol ELISA is a competitive assay that provides accurate measurements of cortisol within the range of 6.6-4,000 pg/ml.

Leukotrienes (LTs) are a group of acute inflammatory mediators derived from arachidonic acid in eosinophils, mast cells, and macrophages. Their biosynthesis proceeds via the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway in which 5-LO converts arachidonic acid into LTA4 with 5(S)-HpETE as an intermediate. The…

The isoprostanes are a family of eicosanoids of non-enzymatic origin produced by the random oxidation of tissue phospholipids by oxygen radicals. Isoprostanes appear as artifacts in tissue and plasma samples which have undergone oxidative degradation during prolonged or improper storage. They also…

Progesterone, along with pregnenolone, is the biosynthetic precursor of all other steroid hormones. The main function of progesterone is to prepare the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized ovum and to maintain pregnancy. Measurement of serum or plasma progesterone levels are used as an…

Leukotriene E4 (LTE4) is a product of the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway in activated mast cells, eosinophils, and monocytes. LTA4, the primary 5-LO metabolite, is rapidly converted to LTC4 and sequentially to LTD4 and LTE4. While plasma levels of LTC4 are virtually undetectable, exogenously…

Latanoprost is an F-series PG analog which has been approved for use as an ocular hypotensive drug. PG esters and other similar derivatives act as prodrugs which are converted to the active free acid form by an esterase/amidase activity in ocular tissues. The free acid form of Latanoprost is 200…

Resolvin D2 (RvD2) is produced physiologically from the sequential oxygenation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by 15- and 5-lipoxygenases. RvD2 reduces polymorphonuclear leukocyte transendothelial migration, the earliest event in acute inflammation, by ~70% at doses as low as 10 pg in the mouse model…

Cayman’s STAT-8-isoprostane ELISA is a competitive assay that permits the rapid measurement of 8-iso PGF2α from biological samples, requiring only 1 hour incubation and development times for each step. This assay format is similar to that employed in Cayman’s original…

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic process regulating gene expression. Methylation occurs on carbon 5 of 2-deoxy cytidine yielding the modified base 5-methyl-2-deoxy cytidine. The methylation pattern of cells is tightly regulated during development with the methylation profile being…

Resolvin D1 (RvD1) is produced physiologically from the sequential oxygenation of DHA by 15- and 5-lipoxygenases. The 17(R)-epimer of RvD1 can also be generated with aspirin-treatment. Both RvD1 and its 17(R) configuration reduce human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) transendothelial migration,…

PGF2α is one of the five primary PGs derived enzymatically directly from the endoperoxide PGH2. The majority of the functional roles ascribed to it relate to fertility, pregnancy, and parturition. Like all of the primary PGs, PGF2α has a very short half-life in the general circulation.…

Because of the rapid metabolism of PGE2, the determination of in vivo PGE2 biosynthesis is often best accomplished by the measurement of PGE2 metabolites. Cayman’s PGEM Assay converts all 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGE2 and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGA2 into a single stable derivative, which is…

15(S)-HETE is produced from arachidonic acid by the enzyme 15-LO. In humans it is formed primarily in the respiratory epithelium, leukocytes, and reticulocytes. It may contribute to allergic rhinitis, has anti-inflammatory properties, and acts as a vasoconstrictor. Cayman’s 15(S)-HETE ELISA…

Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is biosynthesized in the brain by a soluble, 26 kDa glutathione-independent lipocalin-type PGD2 synthase. This PGD2 accumulates in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), where it induces physiologic sleep in rats and humans. PGD2 is also synthesized in mast cells and leukocytes by a…

tetranor-PGDM is a major metabolite of PGD2 found in human and murine urine. Normal levels of tetranor-PGDM in human and murine urine are 1.5 ng/mg creatinine and 8.1 ng/mg creatinine respectively. Cayman’s tetranor-PGDM ELISA is a competitive assay that can be used for quantification of…

Corticosterone is a glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal cortex in response to ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), and is the precursor to aldosterone. The production of glucorcorticoids is increased by stress; therefore, corticosterone can be used as a biomarker of stress. Plasma corticosterone…

Thromboxane A2 (TXA2), produced from arachidonic acid, causes irreversible platelet aggregation, vascular, and bronchial smooth muscle contraction. TXA2 is rapidly hydrolyzed non-enzymatically to form TXB2. However, most of the TXB2 measured in the plasma or urine of healthy individuals is due to…

Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is biosynthesized in the brain by soluble, glutathione-independent lipocalin-type PGD2 synthase. PGD2 accumulates in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), where it induces physiologic sleep in rats and humans. PGD2 is also synthesized in mast cells and leukocytes by a cellular,…

Fluprostenol is a metabolically stable analog of PGF2α with potent FP receptor agonist activity. The isopropyl ester of fluprostenol has been approved for use as an ocular hypotensive drug for the treatment of glaucoma and is sold under the Alcon trade name Travoprost. Acting as a prodrug,…

Prostacyclin is formed from arachidonic acid primarily by the vascular endothelium and renal cortex. It is a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation. PGI2 is non-enzymatically hydrated to 6-keto PGF1α (t½ = 2-3 minutes), and then quickly converted to the major…

Cayman's 8-Hydroxyguanosine (8-OHG) ELISA Kit is a competitive assay that can be used to measure both 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and 8-hydroxyguanosine. This kit has been validated for use in urine, but other sample types may be used. The assay has a range from 0.15-20 ng/ml and a…

Enterolactone is a mammalian lignan with an estrogen-like diphenolic structure. It is produced by intestinal bacteria from two plant precursors (matairesinol and secoisolariciresinol) obtained in the diet. Enterolactone and other lignans and phytoestrogens have been associated with a reduced risk…

17-phenyl trinor PGF2α is a metabolically stable analog of PGF2α and is a potent agonist for the FP receptor. The ethyl amide analog has been approved for use as an ocular hypotensive drug, sold under the Allergan trade name Bimatoprost. There is some evidence that unmetabolized…

LTB4 is synthesized from arachidonic acid by the combined action of 5-LO and LTA4 hydrolase. LTB4 has long been recognized as a potent mediator of inflammation. It stimulates a number of leukocyte functions, including aggregation, stimulation of ion fluxes, enhancement of lysosomal enzyme release,…

Cayman's Cortisol Express ELISA is a competitive assay that permits the rapid measurement of cortisol from biological samples, requiring only a two hour incubation and one hour development times.

Estriol, a metabolite of 17b-estradiol and a major estrogen produced during pregnancy. In the final weeks before parturition, estriol levels increase significantly (10 weeks gestation to approximately 150 ng/ml at week 38). The majority of the estriol synthesized in the later stages of pregnancy…

The primary synthesis of functional vitamin D begins in the skin, where a cholesterol by-product acted upon by UV light forms vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is carried through the bloodstream, attached to the vitamin D binding protein, to the liver where it is converted to 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3).…

This assay offers the convenience of a fast assay (2 hour incubation; 1 hour development) while still achieving a detection limit (80% B/B0) of 10 pg/ml.