Age-related changes in conversion of 5 -androstan-17 -ol-3-one to 5 -androstane-3 ,17 -diol and 5 -androstane-3 ,17 -diol by rat testicular cells in vitro

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Abstract
Conversion of labeled 5.alpha.-androstan-17.beta.-ol-3-one (DHT) by isolated testicular cells from rats of different ages was examined under saturating substrate conditions in vitro (5-10 .mu.g DHT/ml in a 24 h incubation). Two detectable metabolites of DHT were produced by testicular cells in vitro, 5.alpha.-androstane-3.alpha.,17.beta.-diol (3.alpha.-diol) and 5.alpha.-androstane-3.beta.,17.beta.-diol (3.beta.-diol). Production of these diols during a 24 h period was linear, and the amounts formed were directly related to the cell number. The amount of 3.alpha.- and 3.beta.-diols formed by testicular cells of rats of different ages increased from day 10-day 25, then declined. Testicular cells from rats 10-20 days of age converted DHT mainly to 3.alpha.-diol, but thereafter 3.beta.-diol was the predominant testicular metabolite of DHT.