title: Ovarian delta-5-3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in aging rats.
abstract: Ovaries of rats 1, 2, 4, and 18 months old revealed significant delta-5-3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-OHSD) activity when dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), pregnenolone, and 16-dehydropregnenolone served as substrates. No enzyme activity was evident in ovaries 4 and 18 months of age when the substrates 17alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, pregnenolone sulfate, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were used. A marked increase in enzyme activity occurred in the granulosae of mature vesicular follicles at 18 months of age. DHA, pregnenolone, and 16-dehydropregnenolone provided similar activities. On the other hand, interstitial enzyme activity exhibited an aging decline with DHA and 16-dehydropregnenolone but increased with pregnenolone. Corpora lutea were less evident in aging ovaries but did exhibit strong 3beta-OHSD activity when DHA was used. Pregnenolone use by corpora lutea was sharply increased in aging rats but no change occurred with 16-dehydropregnenolone. Thus aging was associated with changes in 3beta-OHSD distribution and use of steroid substrate; a change in function is suggested.
mesh_terms: D006907:17-alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000032:analysis; D006224:Cricetinae; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology*; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051381:Rats; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006907:17-alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011284:Pregnenolone; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases