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.
abstract: 5 alpha-Reduction of testosterone was observed in lung cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (greater than 95% macrophages) from the rats. This activity was inhibited by progesterone and corticosterone. Production of 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstane-3-one and 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol from testosterone was higher in rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages than by the 800 g supernatant fraction of whole lung homogenate from the same animals. Alveolar macrophages from rats treated with the 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor 17 beta-N,N-diethylcarbamoyl-4-aza-4-methyl-5 alpha-androstane-3-one (5 mg/100 g b.w., s.c.) showed decreased metabolism of testosterone to 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstane-3-one and 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol 4 h after treatment. This metabolism was also decreased in alveolar macrophages from rats exposed to potassium dichromate by intratracheal instillation. When bovine alveolar macrophages were incubated with potassium dichromate, 5 alpha-reduction of testosterone decreased significantly. The function of steroid 5 alpha-reduction in alveolar macrophages is currently not known.
mesh_terms: D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000732:Androstanols / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001378:Azasteroids / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008168:Lung; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013045:Species Specificity; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000732:Androstanols; D001378:Azasteroids; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D013739:Testosterone; C031563:17-N,N-diethylcarbamoyl-4-methyl-4-azaandrostane-3-one