Steroid production in testicular tissue of the European eel

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Endocrinology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-110-3-916· OSTI ID:5550673

Eckstein, B; Cohen, S; Hilge, V

Testicular tissue of normal and hCG-stimulated European eels was incubated in vitro with tritiated progesterone or androstenedione as substrates. The following compounds were isolated and identified: 5 beta-androstane-3,17-dione; 17 beta-hydroxy-5 beta-androstan-3-one; androst-4-ene-3,11,17-trione (adrenosterone); 11 beta-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione; 11 beta-hydroxytestosterone; 3 alpha,11 beta-dihydroxy-5 beta-androstan-17-one, and an additional steroid for which the oxidation product was identified as 5 beta-androstene-3,11,17-trione. Four of these steroids have not been hitherto identified in gonadal tissue of any vertebrate. The pattern of steroid production in this tissue is unique for its 5 beta-reduction, for the appearance of adrenosterone as a major metabolite, and for the lack of production of 11-ketotestosterone, which is a regular metabolite of gonadal tissue of teleosts. Thus, it appears that steroid metabolism in the eel testis deviates considerably from the known pattern of steroid production in gonads of other vertebrates.

• Research Organization: Institute of Life Sciences of the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
• OSTI ID: 5550673
• Journal Information: Endocrinology; (United States), Vol. 110:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANDROSTENEDIONE
METABOLISM
HCG
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
PROGESTERONE
EEL
ISOTOPE DILUTION
METABOLITES
STIMULATION
TESTES
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BODY
FISHES
GONADOTROPINS
GONADS
HORMONES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KETONES
MALE GENITALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
PREGNANES
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES
550501* - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques