Skin of the male African catfish, Clarias gariepinus: a source of steroid glucuronides

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-6480(87)90252-8· OSTI ID:6372255

Ali, S A; Schoonen, W G; Lambert, J G; Van den Hurk, R; Van Oordt, P G

Steroid metabolism in the skin of mature male African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, reared in the laboratory, was studied in vitro by tissue incubations with (/sup 3/H)pregnenolone, (/sup 3/H)dehydroepiandrosterone, (/sup 3/H)17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, (/sup 3/H)androstenedione, (/sup 14/C)11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione, and (/sup 3/H)testosterone as precursors. While pregnenolone was not converted to any other steroid, dehydroepiandrosterone was transformed mainly to 5-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol. The products of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone incubations were 5 beta-pregnane-3 alpha,17 alpha-diol-20-one, 5 beta-pregnane-3 alpha,17 alpha, 20 beta-triol, and 5 beta-pregnan-17 alpha-o1-3,20-dione. The major steroids of androstenedione incubations were etiocholanolone, testosterone, and androsterone. Testosterone was converted mainly to etiocholanolone and androstenedione, and only small quantities of 11 beta-hydroxytestosterone, 11-ketotestosterone, and 11-ketoandrostenedione were the metabolites found in 11 beta-hydroxyandrostenedione incubation. These results demonstrated the presence of the enzymes 5 alpha- and 5 beta-reductases and 3 alpha-, 11 beta-, 17 beta-, and 20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in the skin. From enzymehistochemical results it appeared that the steroid conversions take place in the epithelial cells. Moreover, the presence of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of glucuronic acid, in these cells indicates the possibility of steroid glucuronide formation. Indeed significant amounts of water-soluble steroid conjugates, particularly 5 beta-dihydrotestosterone- and testosterone-glucuronide, were found in the incubations with androstenedione and testosterone, indicating the presence of the UDP-glucuronosyl transferase in the catfish skin.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Utrecht, The Netherlands
• OSTI ID: 6372255
• Journal Information: Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.; (United States), Journal Name: Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.; (United States) Vol. 66:3; ISSN GCENA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501* -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
ANDROSTENEDIONE
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BODY
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
ENZYMES
EPITHELIUM
FISHES
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IN VITRO
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KETONES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
METABOLITES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
SKIN
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
TESTOSTERONE
TISSUES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES