Metabolism of testosterone to 17β-hydroxy-5α-androstane-3-one and 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol in alveolar macrophages from rat lung

• Published in: Journal of steroid biochemistry Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 1243 - 1246
• Main Authors: Lofthus, Ragnhild, Marthinsen, Anne B.L., Eik-Nes, Kristen B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 1984; New York, NY Pergamon
• Subjects: Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Other biological molecules; Terpenes, steroids. Hormones; 3α-adiol; AM; 4-MA; 5αDhT; Testosterone; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Rat; Steroid hormone; Lung; Rodentia; Artiodactyla; Beef; Metabolism; Ungulata; Macrophage
• ISSN: 0022-4731
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-4731(84)90152-3

5α-Reduction of testosterone was observed in lung cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (> 95% macrophages) from the rats. This activity was inhibited by progesterone and corticosterone. Production of 17β-hydroxy-5α-androstane-3-one and 5α-androstane-3α,17β-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 5α-reductase inhibitor 17 β- N, N-diethylcarbamoyl-4-aza-4-methyl-5 α-androstane-3-one (5 mg/100 g b.w., s.c.) showed decreased metabolism of testosterone to 17β-hydroxy-5α-androstane-3-one and 5α-androstane3α, 17β-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, 5α-reduction of testosterone decreased significantly. The function of steroid 5α-reduction in alveolar macrophages is currently not known.