Metabolism of Progesterone by Rat Testicular Homogenates. II. Changes with Age

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Abstract
Whole homogenates of testes from rats of different sizes have been incubated with progesterone-4-C14 and labeled products have been isolated and assayed for radioacaitivy. A marked change in the pattern of metabolites takes place when the rats are 200-300 g in weight (7-9 weeks) With testes from 150-200 g animals testosterone is formed in appreciable yields but to a greater extent is further metabolized, principally to 5[alpha]-androstane-3[alpha], 17[beta] -diol. The ring A reductase activity responsible for this transformation appears to decrease during an early phase of rapid sexual maturation. It is suggested that this change in testicular enzymatic activities may play a role, and that 5[alpha]-androstane-3[alpha], 17[beta]-diol may serve some special function in the process of sexual maturation.