Androgen metabolism in rat L6 myoblast cells; high formation of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol from testosterone.
We have studied androgen metabolism in L6 rat myoblasts. 4-androstene-3,17-dione (Adione), testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol (3 alpha-diol) were used for substrates and the amounts of metabolites formed from the respective substrates in the medium were determined. Conversion of Adione to testosterone was dominant over the reverse conversion. DHT formation from testosterone was low and did not change with the duration of incubation, whereas 3 alpha-diol formation increased in a time-dependent manner. Major metabolite of testosterone was not DHT but 3 alpha-diol. A large amount of 3 alpha-diol was formed from DHT, however, DHT formation from 3 alpha-diol was very low. These data indicate that L6 cells have high 5 alpha-reductase activity and suggest that DHT formed from testosterone is rapidly metabolized to 3 alpha-diol in these cells.
Inoue
S
S
First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
Morimoto
I
I
Yamashita
S
S
Izumi
M
M
Nagataki
S
S
D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D045002:3-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (B-Specific); D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000378:metabolism*; D000732:Androstanols / Q000378:metabolism*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D000732:Androstanols; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C032690:3-alpha-(17-beta)-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (NAD(+)); D045002:3-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (B-Specific)