A paradox: elevated 21-hydroxypregnenolone production in newborns with 21-hydroxylase deficiency

21-Hydroxypregnenolone and its metabolite 5-pregnene-3 beta, 20 alpha 21-triol have been measured in the sulfate fraction of neonatal urine. These two steroids are the major two 21-hydroxylated 5-pregnenes produced by neonates and are almost exclusively excreted as disulfates. The excretions of these steroids by normal infants and infants with 21-hydroxylase deficiency were compared. In addition to measurement of the absolute excretion, the excretion relative to the total 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene output was also determined. The results show that 21-hydroxypregnenolone excretion is highly elevated in 21-hydroxylase deficiency (affected, mean 887 micrograms/24 h, range 453-1431 micrograms/24 h; normal, mean 117 micrograms/24 h, range 17-263 micrograms/24 h), but when compared to excretion of other delta 5 steroids the excretion is slightly low [(21-hydroxypregnenolone + 5-pregnene-3 beta, 20 alpha, 21-triol)/total 3-beta-hydroxy-5-ene steroids, 2.9% affected; 3.6% normal]. This difference was not statistically significant. There is thus no evidence that the 21-hydroxylase acting on pregnenolone is deficient in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The explanation of the normal activity of "pregnenolone 21-hydroxylase," although not clearly defined, is probably associated with two recent findings by other workers: (a) that the human fetus has an active 21-hydroxylase distinct from the adrenal enzyme and (b) that a 21-hydroxylase structurally very different from the adrenal enzyme, with high activity towards pregnenolone (but no activity towards 17-hydroxyprogesterone), has been isolated from rabbit hepatic microsomes.     

Human placental 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene-steroid dehydrogenase and steroid 5----4-ene-isomerase: purification from microsomes, substrate kinetics, and inhibition by product steroids

In human pregnancy, placental 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene-steroid dehydrogenase and steroid 5----4-ene-isomerase produce progesterone from pregnenolone and metabolize fetal dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to androstenedione, an estrogen precursor. The enzyme complex was solubilized from human placental microsomes using the anionic detergent, sodium cholate. Purification (500-fold, 3.9% yield) was achieved by ion exchange chromatography (Fractogel-TSK DEAE 650-S) followed by hydroxylapatite chromatography (Bio-Gel HT). The purified enzyme was detected as a single protein band in sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (monomeric Mr = 19,000). Fractionation by gel filtration chromatography at constant specific enzyme activity supported enzyme homogeneity and determined the molecular mass (Mr = 76,000). The dehydrogenase and isomerase activities copurified. Kinetic constants were determined at pH 7.4, 37 degrees C for the oxidation of pregnenolone (Km = 1.9 microM, Vmax = 32.6 nmol/min/mg) and dehydroepiandrosterone (Km = 2.8 microM, Vmax = 32.0 nmol/min/mg) and for the isomerization of 5-pregnene-3,20-dione (Km = 9.7 microM, Vmax = 618.3 nmol/min/mg) and 5-androstene-3,17-dione (Km = 23.7 microM, Vmax = 625.7 nmol/min/mg). Mixed substrate analyses showed that the dehydrogenase and isomerase reactions use the appropriate pregnene and androstene steroids as alternative, competitive substrates. Dixon analyses demonstrated competitive inhibition of the oxidation of pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone by both product steroids, progesterone and androstenedione. The enzyme has a 3-fold higher affinity for androstenedione than for progesterone as an inhibitor of dehydrogenase activity. Based on these competitive patterns of substrate utilization and product inhibition, the pregnene and androstene activities of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene-steroid dehydrogenase and steroid 5----4-ene-isomerase may be expressed at a single catalytic site on one protein in human placenta.     

A simple procedure for solubilizing 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from microsomes of rat adrenals and testis interstitial cells

A simple procedure is described for solubilizing microsomal 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD). Microsomes from rat adrenals or from testicular interstitial cells were incubated for 1 or 2 h at 0 C in a buffer containing NaCl followed by overnight storage at -20 C. Maximum solubilization of 3beta-hydroxy-5beta-androstan-17-one-HSD (androstane-3beta-HSD) was obtained by incubating adrenal microsomes with 1 M NaCl and interstitial cell microsomes with 2 M NaCl. Incubation with NaCl for 1 or 2 h resulted in maximum solubilization; incubation with NaCl for 4, 8 or 24 h did not change the amount of enzyme solubilized. From adrenal microsomes incubated with 1 M NaCl, up to 80% (105.7 millimicron/mg microsomes) of the total androstane-3beta-HSD activity was recovered in the supernatant following centrifugation at 130,000 x g for 1 h. The maximum amount of androstane-3beta-HSD solubilized from interstitial cell microsomes was 56% (29.5 millimicron/mg microsomes) at 2 M NaCl. The "solubilized" androstane-3beta-HSD was retarded when chromatographed on a Sephadex G-200 column and it did not pellet out when centrifuged at 130,000 x g for 15 h. KCL appeared to be equally effective in solubilizing androstane-3beta-HSD from microsomes. Other steroid dehydrogenase activities such as pregnanolone-HSD and 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstan-17-one-HSD were also found in the 130,000 x g supernatant.     

Ovine steroid 17alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P450: characteristics of the hydroxylase and lyase activities of the adrenal cortex enzyme

The steroid 17-hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (CYP17) found in mammalian adrenal and gonadal tissues typically exhibits not only steroid 17-hydroxylase activity but also C-17,20-lyase activity. These two reactions, catalyzed by CYP17, allow for the biosynthesis of the glucocorticoids in the adrenal cortex, as a result of the 17-hydroxylase activity, and for the biosynthesis of androgenic C(19) steroids in the adrenal cortex and gonads as a result of the additional lyase activity. A major difference between species with regard to adrenal steroidogenesis resides in the lyase activity of CYP17 toward the hydroxylated intermediates and in the fact that the secretion of C(19) steroids takes place, in some species, exclusively in the gonads. Ovine CYP17 expressed in HEK 293 cells converts progesterone to 17-hydroxyprogesterone and pregnenolone to dehydroepiandrosterone via 17-hydroxypregnenolone. In ovine adrenal microsomes, minimal if any lyase activity was observed toward either progesterone or pregnenolone. Others have demonstrated the involvement of cytochrome b(5) in the augmentation of CYP17 lyase activity. Although the presence of cytochrome b(5) in ovine adrenocortical microsomes was established, ovine adrenal microsomes did not convert pregnenolone or 17-hydroxypregnenolone to dehydroepiandrosterone. Furthermore the addition of purified ovine cytochrome b(5) to ovine adrenal microsomes did not promote lyase activity. We conclude that, in the ovine adrenal cortex, factors other than cytochrome b(5) influence the lyase activity of ovine CYP17.     

Human placental 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene-steroid dehydrogenase and steroid 5----4-ene-isomerase: purification from mitochondria and kinetic profiles, biophysical characterization of the purified mitochondrial and microsomal enzymes

In human placenta, 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene-steroid dehydrogenase and steroid 5----4-ene-isomerase, an enzyme complex found in microsomes and mitochondria, synthesizes progesterone from pregnenolone and androstenedione from fetal dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. The dehydrogenase and isomerase activities of the mitochondrial enzyme were copurified (733-fold) using sequential cholate solubilization, ion exchange chromatography (DEAE-Toyopearl 650S), and hydroxylapatite chromatography (Bio-Gel HT). Enzyme homogeneity was demonstrated by a single protein band in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (monomeric Mr = 41,000), gel filtration at constant specific enzyme activity (Mr = 77,000), and a single NH2-terminal sequence. Kinetic constants were determined for the oxidation of pregnenolone (Km = 1.6 microM, Vmax = 48.6 nmol/min/mg) and dehydroepiandrosterone (Km = 2.4 microM, Vmax = 48.5 nmol/min/mg) and for the isomerization of 5-pregnene-3,20-dione (Km = 9.3 microM, Vmax = 914.2 nmol/min/mg) and 5-androstene-3,17-dione (Km = 27.6 microM, Vmax = 888.4 nmol/min/mg. Mixed substrate studies showed that the dehydrogenase and isomerase activities utilize their respective pregnene and androstene substrates competitively. Dixon analysis demonstrated that the product steroids, progesterone and androstenedione, are competitive inhibitors of the C-21 and C-19 dehydrogenase activities. Enzyme purified from mitochondria and microsomes had similar kinetic profiles with respect to substrate utilization, product inhibition, and cofactor (NAD+) reduction (mean Km +/- SD using C-19 and C-21 dehydrogenase substrates = 26.4 +/- 0.8 microM, mean Vmax = 73.2 +/- 1.3 nmol/min/mg). Pure enzyme from both organelles exhibited identical biophysical properties in terms of molecular weight and subunit composition, pH optima (pH 9.8, dehydrogenase; pH 7.5, isomerase), temperature optimum (37 degrees C), stability in storage and solution, effects of divalent cations, and the single NH2-terminal sequence of 27 amino acids. These results suggest that the mitochondrial and microsomal enzymes are the same protein localized in different organelles.     

Interaction of prostaglandins with adrenal microsomal cytochrome P-450 in the guinea pig

Studies were carried out to investigate the effects of prostaglandins (PG) $\text{in vitro}$ on adrenal microsomal steroid and drug metabolism in the guinea pig. The addition of PGE₁, PGE₂, PGA₁, PGF_1α or PGF_2α to isolated adrenal microsomes produced typical type I difference spectra. The sizes of the spectra (ΔA_385–420) produced by prostaglandins were smaller than those produced by various steroids including progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and 11β-hydroxyprogesterone. However, the affinities of prostaglandins and steroids for adrenal microsomal cytochrome P-450, as estimated by the spectral dissociation constants, were similar. Prior addition of prostaglandins to isolated adrenal microsomes did not affect steroid binding to cytochrome P-450 or the rate of steroid 21-hydroxylation. In contrast, prostaglandins inhibited adrenal metabolism of ethylmorphine and diminished the magnitude of the ethylmorphine-induced spectral change in adrenal microsomes. The results indicate that prostaglandins inhibit adrenal drug metabolism by interfering with substrate binding to cytochrome P-450. Since 21-hydroxylation was unaffected by PG, different cytochrome P-450 moieties are probably involved in adrenal drug and steroid metabolism.     

Interaction of prostaglandins with adrenal microsomal cytochrome P-450 in the guinea pig.

Studies were carried out to investigate the effects of prostaglandins (PG) in vitro on adrenal microsomal steroid and drug metabolism in the guinea pig. The addition of PGE1, PGE2, PGA1, PGF1 alpha or PGF2 alpha to isolated adrenal microsomes produced typical type I difference spectra. The sizes of the spectra (delta A385-420) produced by prostaglandins were smaller than those produced by various steroids including progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and 11 beta-hydroxyprogesterone. However, the affinities of prostaglandins and steroids for adrenal microsomal cytochrome P-450, as estimated by the spectral dissociation constants, were similar. Prior addition of prostaglandins to isolated adrenal microsomes did not affect steroid binding to cytochrome P-450 or the rate of steroid 21-hydroxylation. In contrast, prostaglandins inhibited adrenal metabolism of ethylmorphine and diminished the magnitude of the ethylmorphine-induced spectral change in adrenal microsomes. The results indicate that prostaglandins inhibit adrenal drug metabolism by interfering with substrate binding to cytochrome P-450. Since 21-hydroxylation was unaffected by PG, different cytochrome P-450 moieties are probably involved in adrenal drug and steroid metabolism.     

Characterization of the major steroids present in amniotic fluid obtained between the 15th and 17th weeks of gestation

In pooled amniotic fluid obtained between the 15th and 17th weeks of gestation the concentration of free steroids and steroid glucuronides was found to be 40 micrograms/dl. The concentration of steroid monosulfates and disulfates was 19 micrograms/dl. About half of the characterized steroids are progesterone metabolites. The "fetal type" 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene steroids were found exclusively in the sulfoconjugated form. Their concentration represents 20% of the total steroid content. The identification of two 15 beta-hydroxylated C21 steroids, 3 beta,15 beta,17 alpha-tridoxy-5-pregnen-20-one and 5-pregnene-3 beta,15 beta,17 alpha,20 alpha-tetrol isolated from mid-pregnancy amniotic fluid is reported here. Metabolites of cortisol and 17-deoxycorticosteroid metabolites had similar quantitative importance, 8.6 and 9.4%, respectively.     

Purification and characterization of 3β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase/isomerase from bovine adrenal cortex

The formation of 4-ene-3-ketosteroids from 3β-hydroxy-5-ene precursors is an obligatory step in the biosynthesis of hormonal steroids such as glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, estrogens and androgens. In the adrenal cortex, pregnenolone, 17-hydroxy-pregnenolone and dehydroisoandrosterone are converted to progesterone, 17-hydroxy-progesterone and androstenedione, respectively, by the enzymatic system 3β-hydroxy-5-ene steroid dehydrogenase and 3-keto-5-ene steroid isomerase (3β-HSD/I).

The present work reports a two step purification procedure which yields an homogenous preparation of 3β-HSD/I from bovine adrenal cortex. It uses solubilization of the microsomal proteins followed by two chromatographic steps, i.e. DEAE-cellulose and heparine-sepharose columns. The enzyme was obtained as an homogeneous protein exhibiting an apparent molecular size of 45 kDa upon SDS-gel electrophoresis and of 81 kDa upon gel filtration. The purified enzyme exhibits both the 5-ene-3β-ol steroid dehydrogenase and isomerase activities in contrast to previous work using a more complex procedure which yielded a final preparation having lost its isomerase activity [Hiwatashi et al., Biochem. J. 98 (1985) 1519–1525]. N-terminal aminoacid (29 residues) sequence of the purified protein was determined and was found identical to that predicted from the nucleic acid sequence of the recently identified enzyme cDNA [Zhas et al. FEBS Lett. 259 (1989) 153–157].     

Effects of cadmium in vitro on microsomal steroid metabolism in the inner and outer zones of the guinea pig adrenal cortex

Studies were carried out to evaluate the effects of cadmium in vitro on microsomal steroid metabolism in the inner (zona reticularis) and outer (zona fasciculata and zona glomerulosa) zones of the guinea pig adrenal cortex. Microsomes from the inner zone have greater 21-hydroxylase than 17α-hydroxylase activity, resulting in the conversion of progesterone primarily to 11-deoxycorticosterone and of 17α-hydroxy progesterone principally to its 21-hydroxylated metabolite, 11-deoxycortisol. Microsomes from the outer zones, by contrast, have far greater 17α-hydroxylase and C_17,20-lyase activities than 21-hydroxylase activity. As a result, progesterone is converted primarily to its 17-hydroxylated metabolite, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone; and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone is converted principally to δ⁴-androstenedione, with only small amounts of 21-hydroxylated metabolites being produced. Addition of cadmium to incubations with inner zone microsomes causes concentration-dependent decreases in 21-hydroxylation and increases in 17α-hydroxylase and C_17,20-lyase activities, resulting in a pattern of steroid metabolism similar to that in normal outer zone microsomes. Cadmium similarly decreases 21-hydroxylation by outer zone microsomes but has no effect on the formation of 17-hydroxylated metabolites or on androgen (Δ⁴-androstenedione) production. In neither inner nor outer zone microsomes did cadmium affect cytochrome P-450 concentrations, steroid interactions with cytochrome(s) P-450, or NADPH–cytochrome P-450 reductase activities. The results indicate that cadmium produces both quantitative and qualitative changes in adrenal microsomal steroid metabolism and that the nature of the changes differs in the inner and outer adrenocortical zones. In inner zone microsomes, there appears to be a reciprocal relationship between 21-hydroxylase and 17α-hydroxylase/C_17,20-lyase activities which may influence the physiological function(s) of that zone.     

3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in human fetal membranes.

A 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3betaHSD) was demonstrated in term human fetal membranes (chorion and amnion) with both dehydroepiandrosterone (3beta-hydroxy-5-androsten-17-one) and pregnenolone (3beta-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one as substrates, and the subcellular distribution substrate and nucleotide specificity of the enzyme was studied. In both membranes the microsomal fraction (particles which sedimented at 105,000 g after 90 min) had the highest specific activity. The chorion was more active than the amnion but the enzyme in both tissues had similar substrate and nucleotide specificity. NAD was the preferred cofactor, and pregnenolone was a better substrate than dehydroepiandrosterone in the presence of NAD. However, with NADP as cofactor both steroids were equally good substrates. When the 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity of chorion microsomes was compared with that of placental microsomes, the specific activities were found to be of the same order of magnitude, and the substrate, nucleotide specificity and steroid binding properties were almost identical.     

Age-related changes in serum 17-hydroxypregnenolone and 17-hydroxypregnenolone sulfate concentrations in human infancy and childhood

In order to clarify some of the developmental processes of the human adrenal cortex or steroidogenesis in infancy and childhood, serum concentrations of 17-hydroxypregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone sulfate and 17-hydroxyprogesterone were measured by means of a combined radioimmunoassay method, and the age-related changes in these steroids were also examined. The actual ranges of serum concentrations of 17-hydroxypregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone sulfate and 17-hydroxyprogesterone in umbilical cord blood were 27.1-80.5, 1,560-5,030 and 53.3-304 nmol/l, respectively. These values subsequently decreased to nadirs of 0.95-2.09 nmol/l of 17-hydroxypregnenolone in subjects 1 to 2 years old, 0.93-7.03 nmool/l of 17-hydroxypregnenolone sulfate in subjects 3 to 6 years old and 0.18-0.78 nmol/l of 17-hydroxyprogesterone in subjects 1 to 2 years old, respectively, and they were followed by gradual increases to the adult levels. This study thus revealed the age-related changes in 17-hydroxypregnenolone and its sulfate concentrations in infancy and childhood and indicated that, in the process in which the adrenal cortex was differentiated to the definitive form, the decrease in the activity of steroid sulfotransferase in infancy and childhood occurred more slowly than the increase in that of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.     

Metabolism of anabolic steroids by recombinant human cytochrome P450 enzymes: Gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric determination of metabolites

Metabolism of steroid hormones with anabolic properties was studied in vitro using human recombinant CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and 2B6 enzymes. The enzyme formats used for CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 were insect cell microsomes expressing human CYP enzymes and purified recombinant human CYP enzymes in a reconstituted system. CYP3A4 enzyme formats incubated with anabolic steroids, testosterone, 17α-methyltestosterone, metandienone, boldenone and 4-chloro-1,2-dehydro-17α-methyltestosterone, produced 6β-hydroxyl metabolites identified as trimethylsilyl (TMS)-ethers by a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method. When the same formats of CYP2C9 were incubated with the anabolic steroids, no 6β-hydroxyl metabolites were formed. Human lymphoblast cell microsomes expressing human CYP2B6 incubated with the steroids investigated produced traces of 6β-hydroxyl metabolites with testosterone and 17α-methyltestosterone only. We suggest that the electronic effects of the 3-keto-4-ene structural moiety contribute to the selectivity within the active site of CYP3A4 enzyme resulting in selective 6β-hydroxylation.     

Sodium ascorbate improves yield of urinary steroids during hydrolysis with Helix pomatia juice

Urinary steroid profile analysis requires enzymatic hydrolysis of glucuronide and sulfate conjugates and this is achieved simultaneously using Helix pomatia juice (HPJ), but steroids with 3beta-hydroxy-5-ene structure undergo transformation and yield of 5alpha-reduced corticosteroid glucuronides is poor. We describe the use of sodium ascorbate to solve these problems and provide a basis for its mode of action. Steroid conjugates were extracted from urine, hydrolyzed in acetate buffer with HPJ and sodium ascorbate and analyzed as methyloxime-trimethylsilylether derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Ranges of temperature, pH and ascorbate, substrate and HPJ concentrations were compared for urine and pure standards. Activity of other antioxidants and that of bacterial cholesterol oxidase were examined. Helix pomatia enzyme preparations from different commercial sources were compared. Loss of 3beta-hydroxy-5-ene steroids was enzyme-dependant, since it required HPJ, was saturable, subject to substrate competition and heat-inactivated. Products were 3-oxo-4-ene steroids and 4,6-diene and 6-oxy derivatives of these but the latter were not formed from 3-oxo-4-ene precursors. Ascorbate, other antioxidants or oxygen exclusion diminished activity. These characteristics were shared by cholesterol oxidase. Yield of 5alpha-reduced steroids was diminished by pre-incubation of HPJ before ascorbate addition and this was reversed if ascorbate was added to the pre-incubation mixture. We conclude that transformation of 3beta-hydroxy-5-ene steroids by HPJ is due to cholesterol oxidase and is diminished by antioxidants or oxygen denial. Yield of 5alpha-reduced steroids is low due to oxidative damage of beta-glucuronidase during hydrolysis, prevented by ascorbate. These features are shared by most commercial Helix pomatia enzyme preparations tested.     

Changes in steroid pattern following acute and chronic adrenocorticotropin administration in premature adrenarche

Biochemically adrenarche is characterized by increased production of 5-ene steroids, in particular Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and its sulphate (DHA-S). It is still not clear if ACTH is responsible for this adrenal steroid production. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of acute and chronic ACTH administration, without dexamethasone pretreatment, on hormonal patterns in 20 patients (5 males aged between 6 8/12 and 7 10/12 years and 15 females aged between 5 9/12 and 7 6/12 years) with idiopathic premature adrenarche. Pregnenolone (5P), DHA, DHA-S, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (A), 11-deoxycortisol (S) and cortisol (F) have been determined by Radioimmunoassay. The results of the hormonal evaluation (means +/- standard error) showed high plasma levels of DHA [329.2 +/- 41.7 ng/100 ml (dl)] and DHA-S (169.1 +/- 54 micrograms/dl) and slightly increased levels of 5P (74.4 +/- 7.1 ng/dl), of A (45.4 +/- 4.6 ng/dl) and 17-OHP (69.3 +/- 11.3 ng/dl) in comparison to those of controls, thus indicating a decrease in 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and an increase in 17-20-lyase and 17-hydroxylase activities, characteristic for adrenarche. Acute and chronic ACTH stimulation did not amplify the characteristic basal hormonal pattern, but they induced a shift of adrenal steroid metabolism to 4-ene pathway, suggesting that the basal hormonal pattern in premature adrenarche may be independent or, at least, not exclusively dependent on ACTH control.     

Inhibitory effect of synthetic progestins, 4-MA and cyanoketone on human placental 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/5----4-ene-isomerase activity

Human placental 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/5----4-ene isomerase (3 beta-HSD) purified from human placenta transforms C-21 (pregnenolone and 17 alpha-hydroxy pregnenolone) as well as C-19 (dehydroepiandrosterone and androst-5-ene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol) steroids into the corresponding 3-keto-4-ene-steroids and is thus involved in the biosynthesis of all classes of hormonal steroids. Trilostane, epostane and cyanoketone are potent inhibitors of 3 beta-HSD with Ki values of approximately 50 nM. 4-MA, a well known 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, is also a potent inhibitor of 3 beta-HSD with a Ki value of 56 nM. Synthetic progestin compounds such as promegestone and RU2323 show relatively strong inhibitory effects with Ki values of 110 and 190 nM, respectively. Cyproterone acetate, a progestin used in the treatment of hirsutism, acne and prostate cancer as well as norgestrel and norethindrone that are widely used as oral contraceptives also inhibit 3 beta-HSD activity at Ki values of 1.5, 1.7 and 2.5 microM, respectively.     

Progesterone metabolism in the gastric mucosa microsomes of guinea pig

The microsomes from guinea pig gastric mucosa were found to convert [4-14C]progesterone to two major metabolites in the presence of NADPH. The gastric metabolizing activity was the highest among the gastrointestinal tissues of guinea pig. 5 alpha-Pregnane-3,20-dione and 3 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one were identified as the major metabolites by thin-layer chromatography and crystallization to constant specific activity, suggesting the presence of steroid 5 alpha-reductase and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities in the gastric mucosa microsomes. Furthermore, time course of progesterone metabolism and analysis of 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione metabolites suggest that the gastric progesterone metabolism is initiated by 5 alpha-reductase and followed by 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The progesterone-metabolizing activity was strongly inhibited by SKF 525-A and disulfiram. The activity was also inhibited by methyrapone to a somewhat lesser extent than the above inhibitors. From gastric mucosa microsomes, the progesterone-metabolizing activity was successfully solubilized with 2% digitonin using 0.1 M potassium chloride and 1 mM dithiothreitol, 0.4 mM NADPH and 20% glycerol as stabilizers for the solubilized activity. Among these stabilizers, glycerol was found to be most effective for stabilizing the activity of the solubilized microsomes.     

Conversion of androstenedione to 3 beta-hydroxy-5-androsten-17-one and 3 beta-hydroxy-4-androsten-17-one by the testicular microsomal fraction of Sprague-Dawley rats

When androstenedione was incubated with testicular microsomes of Sprague-Dawley rats in the presence of reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NADH), unknown metabolites were produced, in addition to testosterone and 7 alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione. The metabolites were identified as 3 beta-hydroxy-4-androsten-17-one and 3 beta-hydroxy-5-androsten-17-one (3:1) by biochemical and radiochemical methods. These results confirmed the occurrence of the reverse reactions from androstenedione to 3 beta-hydroxy-4-androsten-17-one and 3 beta-hydroxy-5-androsten-17-one catalyzed by the 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 5-ene-4-ene isomerase in the microsomal fraction of Sprague-Dawley rat testes.     

Inhibition of microbial cholesterol oxidases by dimethylmorpholines

Cholesterol oxidase is a potentially important enzyme in steroid transformations, catalysing the conversion of 3-hydroxy-5-ene steroids to 3-keto-4-ene derivatives via a 3-keto-5-ene intermediate. Morpholine derivatives, especially fenpropimorph and tridemorph, were found to block selectively the isomerisation activity of cholesterol oxidases isolated from Nocardia erythropolis, Streptomyces sp., Pseudomonas testosteroni and Schizophyllum commune. These enzymes differ strongly in physical characteristics and catalytic behaviour. The effectiveness of the inhibitors varied with the cholesterol oxidase tested. Fenpropimorph was most effective with each of the 4 enzymes, 50 mg/l inhibiting about 50% of the enzyme activity. Inhibition was instantaneous and followed a reversible competitive mechanism in Streptomyces sp. and a reversible non-competitive mechanism in Nocardia erythropolis and Schizophyllum commune. An irreversible type of inhibition was observed for P. testosteroni cholesterol oxidase.     

Phospholipases modulate the rat testicular androgen biosynthetic pathway in vitro

The role of membrane phospholipids in testicular androgen biosynthesis was investigated by monitoring the effects of phospholipase treatments on the activities of the steroid transforming enzymes. Androgen biosynthesis in untreated rat testicular microsomes was examined by monitoring the temporal appearance of pregnenolone metabolites and was found to proceed through the 4-ene route. When phospholipase A2 was included, the 5-ene steroids 17-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were formed in greater quantities, and the production of 4-ene steroids was reduced indicating that the conversion of 5-ene steroids to the 4-ene configuration was inhibited by phospholipase A2 treatment. Phospholipase C, in addition to inhibiting this step, also inhibited the conversion of C21 steroids to C19 steroids. When the enzymatic steps were measured individually, phospholipase A2 inhibited 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-isomerase (3 beta-HSD-Isomerase) with an ED50 of 73 mU/ml but had no effect on the activities of 17-hydroxylase, C-17, 20 lyase, or 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD). However, though phospholipase C treatment inhibited 3 beta-HSD-Isomerase, it caused less inhibition (the ED50 value was 149 mU/ml). Furthermore, 17-hydroxylase and C-17, 20 lyase activities were also inhibited by phospholipase C treatment (ED50 values were 410 and 343 mU/ml, respectively), but no effect on 17 beta-HSD was observed. The differences in the apparent phospholipid requirements of the steroidogenic enzymes provides the possibility that the metabolic fate of pregnenolone may be regulated by changes in the phospholipid composition of the microenvironment.