Expression of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5 in human ovary: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Conversion of androstenedione to testosterone, the most potent androgen secreted by the ovary, is carried out by androgenic 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD) activity. The molecular basis for this is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that type 5 17 beta-HSD (17 beta-HSD5) is responsible for testosterone formation from androstenedione in the human ovary.


METHODS
We used primers specific for each type of 17 beta-HSD to identify quantitatively and directly sequence the polymerase chain reaction products of a human ovary library.


RESULTS
17 beta-HSD1, 17 beta-HSD4, and 17 beta-HSD5 were detected in the library lysate, but not 17 beta-HSD2 or 17 beta-HSD3. 17 beta-HSD5 was the predominant androgenic form of 17 beta-HSD expressed in human ovary.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that 17 beta-HSD5 may play a major role in testosterone biosynthesis by the human ovary. Further investigation of the regulation of 17 beta-HSD5 gene expression is warranted with regard to ovarian testosterone secretion in normal and abnormal states of ovarian function, such as polycystic ovary syndrome.
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Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago Children's Hospital, University of Chicago, Illinois 60637-1470, USA.
Rosenfield
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D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007527:Isoenzymes; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases