The sex pheromone precursor androsta-5,16-dien-3 beta-ol is a major early metabolite in in vitro pregnenolone metabolism in human testicular homogenates.
In an earlier report we described the early time sequence of the in vitro metabolism of [4-14C]pregnenolone ([4-14C]P5) to testosterone in homogenates of human and rat testes and demonstrated the appearance of mainly delta 5 (humans)- and delta 4 (rats)-steroids within minutes after starting the incubation. In this study strong evidence is presented for the substantial synthesis from P5 of the sex pheromone precursor androsta-5,16-dien-3 beta-ol (ADL) in human, but not rat, testicular homogenates. The 16-unsaturated C19 steroid ADL appeared after 1 min of incubation, and within 5 min reached values (17-23% of total radioactivity added as [4-14C]P5) comparable to those of the major delta 5-steroids 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone. Thus, in humans, as in boars, the sex attractant precursor ADL is a major early testicular metabolite of P5.
Weusten
J J
JJ
Department of Medicine, St. Radboud Hospital, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Smals
A G
AG
Hofman
J A
JA
Kloppenborg
P W
PW
Benraad
T J
TJ
D000737:Androstenols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism*; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D000737:Androstenols; D010675:Pheromones; D012724:Sex Attractants; C000152:androsta-5,16-dien-3 beta-ol; D011284:Pregnenolone