title: Metabolism of testosterone to 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstane-3-one and 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol in alveolar macrophages from rat lung--II. Effects of intratracheal instillation of 3.4 mumol K2Cr2O7.
abstract: Activity of the steroid 5 alpha-reductase in pulmonary alveolar macrophages from adult male rats has been investigated in vitro. Intratracheal instillation of 3.4 mumol K2Cr2O7 lowered the enzyme activity within 6 h, and the reduction was significant on the subsequent 2, 4 and 7 days. The activity of this enzyme was significantly decreased only 6 and 24 h after instillation when measured in the 800 g supernatant fraction of whole lung. Instillation of 3.4 mumol K2Cr2O7 increased serum levels of corticosterone. Serum levels of triiodothyronine and thyroxine decreased except for a transient increase 3 h after the K2Cr2O7 instillation. Subcutaneous administration of 200 micrograms dexamethasone/100 g b.wt, 200 micrograms/100 g b.wt of testosterone, 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstane-3-one (5 alpha-DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone or corticosterone had no effect on the 5 alpha-reductase activity of the pulmonary alveolar macrophages within 12 h. The combined treatment with dexamethasone s.c. and intratracheal instillation of 3.4 mumol K2Cr2O7 reduced the steroid 5 alpha-reductase activity in the pulmonary alveolar macrophages to about 25% of controls. Measurement of the steroid 5 alpha-reductase activity in pulmonary alveolar macrophages as an index of lung damage when exposed to toxic material is discussed.
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000732:Androstanols / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D002840:Chromates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011192:Potassium Dichromate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000732:Androstanols; D002840:Chromates; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D013739:Testosterone; D011192:Potassium Dichromate; D003345:Corticosterone