Formation of 5 alpha-products as major C19-steroids in estrogen-responsive mouse Leydig cell tumor lines.

Abstract

Homogenates of estrogen-responsive mouse Leydig cell tumors (T 124958-R and T 22137) or 28- and 120-day-old mouse testes were incubated with [3H]progesterone or [14C]4-androstene-3,17-dione in the presence of NADPH, and progesterone metabolism and enzyme activities were estimated. The growth of T 124958-R tumor transplanted in BALB/c mice was markedly stimulated by estrogenization of host mice, but the growth of T 22137 tumor was evidently suppressed by the estrogenization. The major C21-17-OH-steroids and C19-steroids formed from progesterone by both tumors and the testes of immature mice were 5 alpha-steroids, such as 3 alpha,17-dihydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one, 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione, androsterone, 3 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-17-one and 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol. In contrast, the major steroids formed by the testes of adult mice were testosterone and 4-androstene-3,17-dione, and no or little 5 alpha-steroids were produced. 5 alpha-Reductase activities in both tumor cells (40-50 nmol/l X 10(8) cells per h) were also found to be approx. 5-6 times higher than that in Leydig cells of adult mouse testes (8 nmol/l X 10(8) Leydig cells per h), though 17-hydroxylase activity was much higher in the Leydig cells of adult testes (730 nmol/l X 10(8) Leydig cells per h) than in both tumor cells (1-7 nmol/l X 10(8) cells per h). Furthermore, the presence of significant amounts of endogenous androsterone and/or 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol was demonstrated in both tumors by radioimmunoassay. The present results demonstrate for the first time that C19-5 alpha-steroids are major C19-steroid products (immature type of testicular androgen production) in Leydig cell tumor lines.

• Authors: D Takatsuka, H Mori, S Noguchi, Y Nishizawa, B Sato, K Matsumoto
• Journal: Journal of steroid biochemistry (J Steroid Biochem) Vol. 24 Issue 3 Pg. 715-9 (Mar 1986) ISSN: 0022-4731 [Print] England
• PMID: 3486325 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Estrogens
• Androstane-3,17-diol
• Testosterone
• Androstenedione
• Progesterone
• Androsterone
• Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase
• 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase

Topics

• 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase (analysis)
• Androstane-3,17-diol (analysis)
• Androstenedione (metabolism)
• Androsterone (metabolism)
• Animals
• Estrogens (pharmacology)
• In Vitro Techniques
• Leydig Cell Tumor (metabolism)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Progesterone (metabolism)
• Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase (analysis)
• Testicular Neoplasms (metabolism)
• Testis (metabolism)
• Testosterone (metabolism)