In vitro biosynthesis of 17 alpha,20 alpha,20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pegnen-3-one by the ovaries, testes, and head kidneys of the Atlantic salmon Salmo salar

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-6480(88)90032-9· OSTI ID:7070114

Sangalang, G B; Freeman, H C

Ovaries, testes, and head kidneys of sexually mature Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, biosynthesized 17 alpha,20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP) from equimolar amounts of (/sup 3/H)pregnenolone plus (4-/sup 14/C)progesterone in vitro. The /sup 3/H:/sup 14/C isotope ratios of steroid metabolites indicated that the biosynthetic pathways to 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP in the testes differed from those observed in the ovaries and head kidneys. (4-/sup 14/C)progesterone appeared to be the principal precursor of 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP in the testes, whereas both precursors were efficiently biotransformed to 17 alpha,20 beta-diOPH in the ovaries and head kidneys. 17 alpha-Hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17 alpha-OHP) was the immediate precursor to 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP in all tissues. However, appreciable amounts of 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP accumulated in vitro in the testes only in the presence of exogenous (/sup 14/C)progesterone. Incubation of the testes, ovaries, and head kidneys with (/sup 14/C)pregnenolone resulted in high yields of 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP in the ovaries and head kidneys but no detectable amounts of the steroid in the testes. The results confirm that progesterone is the favored precursor to 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP in the testes. The results also suggest that the head kidneys may be an excellent cellular source of 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP in both male and female. Atlantic salmon and may play an important role in the sexual maturation process in this fish. It is suggested that biosynthetic control mechanism affecting 17 alpha,20 beta-diOHP synthesis and/or spermiation and ovulation may differ in male and female Atlantic salmon.

• Research Organization: Halifax Fisheries Research Lab., Nova Scotia (Canada)
• OSTI ID: 7070114
• Journal Information: Gen. Comp. Endocrinol.; (United States), Vol. 69:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE RATIO
HORMONES
BIOSYNTHESIS
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
IN VITRO
KIDNEYS
METABOLITES
OVARIES
PRECURSOR
PROGESTERONE
SALMON
TESTES
TESTOSTERONE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ANADROMOUS FISHES
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BODY
FEMALE GENITALS
FISHES
GONADS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KETONES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MALE GENITALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PREGNANES
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques