title: Histochemistry of the 3 beta-hydroxysteroid, 17 beta-hydroxysteroid and 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in human salivary glands.
abstract: Human parotid and submandibular glands showed no 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 alpha-HSD) activity. The 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) and the 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) appeared intensely reactive in the duct epithelia of the male and female glands and weakly reactive in the acinar cells of the female ones. The failure to demonstrate 3 alpha-HSD activity indicates that in-vivo androgen activation, if present at all, is not so marked as in target organs. The different distribution of the 3 beta-HSD and 17 beta-HSD in the two sexes can be related not only to the oxidation of androgens but also to the metabolism of the female hormones. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) do not seem to be specifically influenced by the sex hormones as their pattern of distribution showed no sex differences.
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D045002:3-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (B-Specific); D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000201:enzymology*; D010734:Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D010734:Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D045002:3-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (B-Specific)