title: In vitro metabolism of androstenedione and identification of endogenous steroids in Helix aspersa.
abstract: In vitro metabolism of androstenedione in gonads of juvenile and adult Helix aspersa has been investigated. The conversion of [3H]androstenedione into testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, androsterone, and estriol was demonstrated. In juvenile animals testosterone (59.8%) is the major metabolite whereas in adult animals androsterone (18.8%) is. The following endogenous steroids have been identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in adult gonads: androsterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, 3 alpha-androstanediol, estrone, estradiol-17 beta, and estriol. The levels of testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, and progesterone have been measured by RIAs in gonads and hemolymph. Their levels vary with the physiological stage: the gonadal and circulating levels of testosterone decrease with the sexual maturation whereas the 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone increases. These differences observed in metabolism and in level of steroids between the juvenile and the adult snails allow us to suppose that these steroids have a biological role.
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism*; D000738:Androsterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D004964:Estriol / Q000378:metabolism; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006066:Gonads / Q000378:metabolism; D006372:Helix, Snails / Q000378:metabolism*; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013256:Steroids / Q000032:analysis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D014316:Tritium; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D000738:Androsterone; D004964:Estriol