title: Metabolism of spirolactones by the rat testis in vitro.
abstract: Spironolactone (SPIR) has been shown in numerous clinical studies to produce sexual disorders. We studied the metabolism of canrenone (CAN), the main metabolite of SPIR, and of the analogue 6,7-dihydrocanrenone (DHC) by the rat testis in vitro. The metabolites produced during a 4 h incubation period were isolated by HPLC and identified by nmr-, ms-, ir- and uv-spectrometry. SPIR was not metabolised in a detectable amount. CAN was converted to canrenoic acid, several hydroxylated (15 beta-, 16 alpha-, 19-, 2OR- and 21S-OH-CAN) and one reduced metabolite (3 alpha-OH-CAN). When DHC was incubated, an analogous pattern was detected. It is concluded that CAN and DHC serve as substrates for steroid metabolism in the rat testis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001711:Biotransformation; D002192:Canrenone / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013148:Spironolactone; D002192:Canrenone