A Biochemical Effect of Deuterium
To test the hypothesis that in vivo certain compounds are oxidized in various degrees to the even more potent androgens, the 3-keto-5 alpha - androstanes, and that the 3-alcohols may be androgenically inactive per se, 3 alpha -deutero-17 alpha methyl-5 alpha -androstane-3 beta , 17 beta -diol (I) prepared by the lithium aluminum deuteride reduction of 17 alpha -methyl-5 alpha androstan-17 beta -ol-3-one (III), was assayed in the castrated rat in parallel with the corresponding 3 alpha -hydrogen-17 alpha methyl-5 alpha -androstane-3 beta , 17 beta -diol (II). Compound II was found to be 3.36 times more active than the deuterocompound I on the basis of the ventral prostate and 4.65 times more active on the basis of response of the seminal vesicles, demonstrating that in the rat oxidation to the 3ketone is an important, if not the sole, factor contributing to androgenicity of 3 beta -hydroxyandrostanes. In the chicks' comb assay, by local inunction, no significant difference was established between the activities of I, II, and III. (P.C.H.)
- Research Organization:
- Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, Shrewsbury, Mass.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-031972
- OSTI ID:
- 4838829
- Journal Information:
- Nature (London), Journal Name: Nature (London) Journal Issue: 4795 Vol. 191; ISSN 0028-0836
- Publisher:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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