In vitro formation of testosterone via the delta 5-pathway in the human umbilical cord. |
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| Authors: | A Loganath R Gunasegaram K L Peh W P Chow P C Chew S Shanmugaratnam |
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| Affiliation: | University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore. |
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| Abstract: | Homogenates of two groups of term umbilical cord (n = 6, 37-40 weeks; n = 6, 38-40 weeks) were separately incubated with [7n-3H]pregnenolone and [1,2,6,7-3H]dehydroepiandrosterone. Using the reverse-isotope dilution technique, [3H]dehydroepiandrosterone and [3H]testosterone formed from the respective substrates were isolated and characterized. The extent of enzymic conversions were 0.015-0.28% and 0.044-2.2%. These results provide evidence for the metabolic transformation of pregnenolone to testosterone via the delta 5-3 beta-hydroxy route. |
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