title: Sex steroid content and metabolism in Trichostrongylus colubriformis (Nematoda).
abstract: Testosterone, progesterone and cholesterol were found in mixed sexes of the nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis from goats, according to thin-layer, gas-liquid and high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of these steroids was confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy. Melting points of the worms' steroids were similar to authentic standards of the steroids. Estradiol was not detected in worms from either goat sex. Cholesterol was about 0.08% of the worms' dry weight in helminths from either sex of host. Testosterone was 0.02% of the dry weight when worms were taken from male goats, but only 0.005% from female goats. Progesterone was not detected in worms from male goats, but was 0.005% of the dry weight of helminths from female hosts. Incubation of a worm preparation with tritiated steroids showed that progesterone was converted to 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, based on retention during radioactive thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography, and co-crystallization. Testosterone, cholesterol and 17-beta-estradiol were not metabolized.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003460:Crystallization; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D014254:Trichostrongylus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D002784:Cholesterol