Uptake and metabolism of androgens by bovine spermatozoa.
Spermatozoa from bovine ejaculates and cauda epiditymidis were incubated with either tritiated 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstane-3-one (DHT) or 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol (3 alpha-diol). Examination of the medium incubations demonstrated metabolic conversion of both DHT and 3 alpha-diol when these steriods were incubated with ejaculated sperm. In addition to this interconversion, the following metabolities were identified: 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol, (3 beta-diol), androsterone and 5 alpha-androstane-3, 17-dione (5 alpha-A-dione). Incubations with cauda spermatozoa showed similar metabolic patterns. Androgen binding was exhibited by both sperm types. Examination of the washed cauda sperm pellet, following incubations with 3 alpha-diol showed that the incubated steroid was the most abundantly bound. DHT and 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3 alpha-ol (delta 16-3 alpha-ol1 were also detected. The major part of the radioactivity bound in the sperm pellet was identified as DHT when this steroid was used as the substrate; the remaining radioactivity consisted of 3 alpha-diol and delta 16-3 alpha-ol. Investigations of ejaculated sperm pellets gave similar results apart from the additional identification of 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3 one (delta 16-3-one) and 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3 beta-ol (delta 16-3 beta-ol (delta 16-3 beta-ol).
D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000378:metabolism*; D000731:Androstanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000738:Androsterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002417:Cattle; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
D000731:Androstanes; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D000738:Androsterone