The conversion of 23,24-dinor-5-cholen-3β-ol to cortisol by the canine adrenal

An alternative pathway for steroidogenesis, via a sesterterpene, has been proposed. This communication presents evidence that the canine adrenal can utilise 23,24-dinor-5-cholen-3β-ol to biosynthesise cortisol.It has been proposed that steroid hormones could be biosynthesised by a pathway other than that through cholesterol, possibly by a sesterterpene pathway (1,2).The previous studies were carried out using bovine adrenal tissue. This communication extends these studies to include the canine adrenal gland.