title: Studies on the biosynthesis and fate of ecdysteroids in filarial nematodes.
abstract: Experiments were performed to investigate whether adult Dirofilaria immitis and Brugia pahangi were capable of synthesising ecdysteroids from cholesterol or various intermediates from the biosynthetic pathway functioning in insects. Metabolites of radioactively-labelled cholesterol and 5 beta-ketodiol (2,22,25-trideoxy-ecdysone) were detected in the filarial nematodes, but there was no radioactivity corresponding to ecdysteroid. Uptake of tritiated 2-deoxyecdysone was poor and metabolism was not observed. [3H]Ecdysone was absorbed sparingly by adult D. immitis, but was metabolised efficiently to several less polar products. There was no evidence of C-20 hydroxylation capability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Liverpool, U.K.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: McCall
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Howells
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002009:Brugia / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004183:Dirofilaria immitis / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D026461:Ecdysteroids; D005260:Female; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000378:metabolism*; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D026461:Ecdysteroids; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones; D002784:Cholesterol