In VitroMetabolism of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate in Foreskin, Abdominal Skin and Vaginal Mucosa

Abstract
Newborn foreskin, abdominal skin from a normal and an anencephalic infant, and vaginal mucosa were incubated with dehydroepiandrosterone-7α-3H-sulfate (DHA - 7α- 3H-SO4) (ammonium salt). The substrate was converted to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) in all incubations, with the yield ranging from 5.7 to 14.2%, indicating the presence of steroid sulfatase in the tissues studied. Under the conditions of these incubations, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-reductase activity converted the metabolites into Δ4-androstene-3,17-dione (Δ4-A) and testosterone.