Changes in the testicular metabolism of dehydroepiandrosterone during the annual reproductive cycle of the hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus L.)

• Published in: General and comparative endocrinology Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 328 - 332
• Main Authors: Teräväinen, T., Saure, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.1976
• Subjects: Animals; Cold Temperature; Dehydroepiandrosterone - metabolism; Hedgehogs - metabolism; Hedgehogs - physiology; Hibernation; Male; NAD; NADP; Reproduction; Space life sciences; Testis - metabolism
• ISSN: 0016-6480; 1095-6840
• DOI: 10.1016/0016-6480(76)90045-9

Testicular homogenates obtained from the hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus L.) at different stages of its annual reproductive cycle were incubated with radioactive dehydroepian-drosterone as the substrate at 35 and 4.5° (hibernation temperature). Testosterone (T) and/or 5-androstene-3β,17β-diol (Δ 5-A) were found as the main metabolites. In the incubations carried out in the absence of co-factors or in the presence of NADP the formation of Δ 5-A dominated over that of T. In the presence of NADT was formed in high, and Δ 5-A in negligible or undetectable amounts. The formation of both these steroids was clearly inhibited when the homogenates derived from hibernating animals were incubated at 4.5°. The nature of this cold-induced inhibition of steroidogenesis is discussed.