Steroid production in testicular tissue of the European eel
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), Journal Name: Endocrinology; (United States) Vol. 110:3; ISSN ENDOA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
ANDROSTENEDIONE
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
EEL
FISHES
GONADOTROPINS
GONADS
HCG
HORMONES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPE DILUTION
KETONES
MALE GENITALS
METABOLISM
METABOLITES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
PREGNANES
PROGESTERONE
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
STIMULATION
TESTES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES