Identification and biosynthesis of steroid hormones in the ovary and fat bodies of female Triturus cristatus carnifex

1. 1. The steroid content of the ovaries and fat bodies of female Triturus cristatus carnifex have been analysed during the breeding season. 2. 2. Progesterone and androstenedione have been identified in the ovarian extract; the following steroids have been identified in the fat bodies: pregnenolone, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone and estrone. 3. 3. Incubations of acetone powder carried out separately with ovarian and fat body tissue using cholesterol-4-C14 as the substrate yielded the following metabolites in the case of the ovary: progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, testosterone; and in the case of the fat bodies: pregnenolone, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, 17α-hydroxprogesterone, and testosterone. 4. 4. Incubations with either tissue using testosterone-4-C14 as the substrate yielded 11-ketotestosterone, 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione, androstenedione and esterone. 5. 5. These findings support the view that steroid hormones identified in the fat bodies could be produced in situ from cholesterol.