Sexual differentiation of hepatic metabolism of corticosterone and testosterone in the rat.
The metabolism of corticosterone and testosterone has been studied in vitro in separate aliquots of the same homogenates of livers from neonatally masculinized and non-masculinized adult castrate male rats. The recovered metabolites were separated by TLC and identified by the combined use of GLC and appropriate derivative formation. The major effect of neonatal masculinization upon the metabolism of both steroids was to increase the ratio of 3 beta : 3 alpha metabolites but this effect was much more prominent in the metabolism of corticosterone than of testosterone. Only 5 alpha metabolites of corticosterone were found, whereas a minor amount of 5 beta products appeared in the case of testosterone. Reduction at C-20 accounted for only about 5% of the metabolism of corticosterone with the exclusive formation of 20 beta-hydroxy derivatives in the non-masculinized liver, but of both 20 alpha and 20 beta products in the masculinized liver. Small amounts of acetylated androstane 3,17-diols and 3-hydroxy-17-ketones were formed, apparently by enzymic reactions that are influenced by neonatal masculinization.
D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012733:Sex Differentiation; D012737:Sex Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D013739:Testosterone; D003345:Corticosterone