THE METABOLISM OF [4-14C]-PROGESTERONE BY ADRENOCORTICAL TISSUE FROM PATIENTS WITH CUSHING'S SYNDROME

Abstract

SUMMARY The metabolism of [4-14C]-progesterone in vitro by adrenocortical tissue from three patients with Cushing's syndrome has been studied. The glands of two of these patients were hyperplastic and the third patient, a severely virilized girl, had a large adrenal tumour. Slices taken for study from the hyperplastic glands contained 'clear' fascicular and 'compact' reticular cells. The tumour slices were 'clear' cells. The major metabolites in each case were 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, 16α-hydroxyprogesterone, 11β-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione and corticosterone. Small amounts of 11-deoxycorticosterone, androst-4-ene-3,17-dione and testosterone were also formed. The production of 16α-hydroxyprogesterone and testosterone from progesterone by adult human adrenal cortex tissue has not previously been described. The results support the view that adrenal androgens may be synthesized in both fascicular and reticular cells, in contradiction to the older view that the zona reticularis is the site of androgen biosynthesis.