TESTOSTERONE BIOSYNTHESIS IN THE DESERT MOUSE, ACOMYS CAHIRINUS
- 1 September 1971
- journal article
- Published by Bioscientifica in Journal of Endocrinology
- Vol. 51 (1) , 7-16
- https://doi.org/10.1677/joe.0.0510007
Abstract
SUMMARY: Testosterone synthesis was studied in Acomys cahirinus by incubation of its testis with radioactive substrates. In comparison with other rodents, the Acomys testis was found to have a lower 17β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase activity, whereas the activity of 20α-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase was high. The accumulation of 5-ene-3β-hydroxy metabolites suggested that biosynthesis proceeded preferentially by the 4-ene route. This was confirmed by the simultaneous incubation of [3H]5-ene-3β-hydroxysteroids and [14C]4-en-3-oxosteroids. The predominant route of biosynthesis would, therefore, appear to be: pregnenolone → progesterone → 17α-hydroxyprogesterone → androstenedione → testosterone.Keywords
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