title: Metabolism of androgens in vitro by human foetal skin.
abstract: Fresh scalp, genital, chest and axillary skin from human foetuses of 12-41 weeks' maturity was incubated in Krebs improved Ringer I medium with (7alpha-3h)dehydroepiandrosterone, (7alpha-3H)testosterone and (7alpha-3H)androstenedione. The metabolites identified were androstenedione, 5alpha-androstane-3alpha, 17beta-diol, 5alpha-androstane-3beta, 17beta-diol,  5-androstene-3beta, 17beta-diol and testosterone. The results provide evidence for the presence of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, delta4-5 isomerase, 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, delta4-3-oxosteroid-5alpha reductase and 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in human foetal skin. There were quantitative differences in the various enzyme activities between different body sites and skin specimens of different gestational age. 5alpha-Reductase activity was particularly high in genital skin. 3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase delta4-5 isomerase activity was low in skin from a 12-week foetus, but high in skin specimens from 28-, 38- and 41-week foetuses. 17beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity was already high in the skin of the 12-week foetus and remained so in the older foetuses. These results were correlated with the development of the foetal sebaceous glands, and were in general agreement with a parallel enzyme histochemical study. The role of androgen metabolism in human foetal skin is discussed.
mesh_terms: D015068:17-Ketosteroids / Q000032:analysis; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D015114:Androstenediol / Q000032:analysis; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism; D000738:Androsterone / Q000032:analysis; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000032:analysis; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000201:enzymology; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015068:17-Ketosteroids; D000728:Androgens; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D015114:Androstenediol; D000738:Androsterone; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases