Testosterone metabolism in vitro by male sexual accessory glands from normal and autoimmunized rabbits.
In vitro metabolism of (3H)-testosterone from male accessory gland homogenates from autoimmunized and normal rabbits was studied at different times of incubation. Results indicated that 5 alpha - androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol was the main metabolite formed in both cases, though the presence of the 3 beta-isomer cannot be excluded. On autoimmunized rabbits with small histological alteration, transformation of the precursor (3H)-testosterone was significantly greater (40 min: P less than 0.01; 60 min: P less than 0.05). This led to a higher yield of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol at both incubation times, being significant only at 40 min (P less than 0.02). The 4-androstene-3,17-dione also increased as compared with the normal group. In autoimmunized rabbits with a greater histological alteration, the bioconversion of (3H)-testosterone decreased for both incubation times, being significant only for the 40 min (P less than 0.05). A decreased interconversion to 4-androstene-3,17-dione was also observed, being significant only for 40 min (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that in an early stage of autoimmunization there might be a transient stimulation of enzyme activities in the sexual accessory glands. In another moment of the phenomena a more severe histological lesion with infiltration of male accessory glands was present. At the same time, decrease in the enzymatic activities could be noticed.
D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D013739:Testosterone; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases