Adrenocortical Function in Birds:In VitroBiosynthesis of Radioactive Corticosteroids from Pregnenolone-7-H3and Progesterone-4-C14by Adrenal Glands of the Domestic Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) and the Chicken (Gallus domesticus)1

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Abstract
Incubation of surviving adrenal slices from young ducks and pullets with pregnenolone-7-H3 and progesterone-4-C14 yielded, from both species of birds, C14-and H3- labeled corticosterone, aldosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone, 11-desoxycorticosterone and a substance probably identical with 11β- hydroxyprogesterone. Cortisol could be isolated only in trace amounts insufficient for positive identification. Analysis of the isotope content of the biosynthetic substances permitted the elaboration of a tentative pathway in which a certain percentage of the 3-keto-4- ene steroids could have been formed directly from their 3β-hydroxy-5-ene hydroxylated analogues rather than from progesterone.