Metabolism of (7 alpha-3H)dehydroepiandrosterone and (4-14C)androstenedione in vitro by testicular tissue from adult and prepubertal Wistar rats

SUMMARY The metabolism of [7α-3H]dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and [4-14C] androstenedione in vitro was investigated in 30-day-old (prepubertal) and adult rat testicular tissue in the presence of cyanoketosteroid, a 5-ene-3β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase inhibitor. Whereas both substrates were converted to 5α-reduced steroids by the prepubertal testis, 4-ene-steroid-5α-reductase activity was negligible in the adult gland. Cyanoketosteroid prevented the formation of 5α-reduced steroids from DHA by the prepubertal testis indicating testosterone and androstenedione as intermediates in their production.