Aromatization of Androstenedione by Human Adult LiverIn Vitro

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Abstract
After incubation of tritiated androstenedione with human adult liver homogenate, estrone and estradiol were identified in the unconjugated radioactive material, with conversion rates of .09 and .13% (uncorrected for losses). That finding indicates that the aromatizing capacity present in the human fetal liver has been preserved in the adult. Therefore, it is suggested that, in the adult, peripheral aromatization of C-19 steroids takes place, at least partially, in the liver. The presence of estradiol should be related to a 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in the human liver. Neither estrone nor estradiol could be detected in the conjugated radioactive material, although almost 50% of it behaved like phenolic steroids.