title: Steroid metabolism in human teratocarcinoma cell line PA 1.
abstract: Human ovarian teratocarcinoma cells of line PA 1, (Zeuthen et al., 1979[1]) used as model for early embryonic cells, were analyzed for their in vitro capacity to convert steroids. The cells were incubated for 20 h with radioactive pregnenolone, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone or estradiol-17 beta, or with non-radioactive progesterone, 6 alpha- or 6 beta-hydroxyprogesterone, 3 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one, dehydroepiandrosterone or estradiol-17 beta. The metabolites were analyzed by thin layer chromatography or studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results indicate that PA 1 cells are able to metabolize, although to a restricted amount, a variety of steroids, most markedly progesterone. The metabolites were almost exclusively found in the medium. The main metabolite of progesterone was 3 beta, 6 alpha-dihydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one. Minor formation of progesterone from pregnenolone could be detected. Human chorionic gonadotropin did not have any effect on pregnenolone metabolism. No formation of estradiol-17 beta or estrone from dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione or testosterone could be detected. However, estradiol-17 beta was shown to be converted mainly to estrone. These findings indicate that undifferentiated PA 1 teratocarcinoma cells like certain mouse teratocarcinoma cells, seem not to be steroidogenic but are capable of metabolizing naturally occurring steroid hormones and their precursors.
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013256:Steroids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013256:Steroids