Biosynthesis and metabolism of testosterone by sertoli cell-enriched seminiferous tubules

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 73; no. 1; pp. 47 - 55
• Main Authors: Tencé, Martine, Drodowsky, Michel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 08.11.1976
• Subjects: Androgens - biosynthesis; Animals; Busulfan - pharmacology; Dihydrotestosterone - biosynthesis; Female; Gestational Age; Male; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Microscopy, Electron; Pregnancy; Progesterone - biosynthesis; Rats; Seminiferous Tubules - drug effects; Seminiferous Tubules - metabolism; Sertoli Cells - drug effects; Sertoli Cells - physiology; Sertoli Cells - ultrastructure; Testis - metabolism; Testosterone - metabolism
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/0006-291X(76)90495-2

Sertoli cell-enriched tubules isolated from rats which had been treated with 1,4-dimethyl sulfonyloxybutane were incubated with either [ 14C] progesterone or [ 14C] testosterone for 2 hours. Tubules of normal rats and fragments of Sertoli cell-enriched testes were incubated under the same conditions. Sertoli cell-enriched tubules converted progesterone to 20α-dihydroprogesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone. The major metabolite was 20α-dihydroprogesterone. The percentage conversion of progesterone into testosterone corresponded to a production of 10–20 ng testosterone. Sertoli cell-enriched tubules converted testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, 3α-androstanediol and 3β-androstanediol. Under our experimental conditions, dihydrotestosterone was the major 5α-reduced metabolite. Normal tubules converted progesterone and testosterone to the same metabolites as Sertoli cell-enriched tubules. Fragments of Sertoli cell-enriched testes were much more active than isolated tubules in metabolizing progesterone. They produced the same amounts of 5α-reduced metabolites of testosterone.