title: Changes in testosterone metabolism by the brain and cloacal gland during sexual maturation in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).
abstract: Testosterone metabolism in the brain and pituitary and cloacal glands of male and female Japanese quail was studied in vitro during sexual maturation (from 1 day to 5 weeks after hatching). The production of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone in the hyperstriatum and cloacal gland and that of androstenedione in the cloacal gland of males was highest at 1 day after hatching, which could be related to the peak of plasma androgens previously demonstrated in neonatal quail. 5 beta-Reductase activity was very high in the brain, but not the pituitary or cloacal glands of young chicks and decreased markedly, especially in the hypothalamus, during sexual maturation. As 5 beta-reduced metabolites of testosterone are inactive androgens, it is suggested that the decrease of 5 beta-reductase activity with age corresponds to a potentiation of the effects of testosterone at the level of the brain.
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000378:metabolism; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002988:Cloaca / Q000378:metabolism*; D003370:Coturnix / Q000378:metabolism*; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000378:metabolism; D011784:Quail / Q000378:metabolism*; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C032690:3-alpha-(17-beta)-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (NAD(+)); C021936:3-oxo-5 beta-steroid delta 4-dehydrogenase