STEROIDS OF ADRENAL ORIGIN METABOLIZED BY HUMAN PROSTATIC TISSUE BOTH IN VIVO AND IN VITRO

Abstract

SUMMARY The pattern of metabolites present in human benign prostatic tissue after infusion of either [7α-3H]testosterone, [7α-3H]androstenedione or [7α-3H]dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) sulphate 30 min before prostatectomy were investigated. Infusion of [7α-3H]testosterone yielded 5α-dihydrotestosterone (17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one) as the major metabolite present in the prostatic tissue together with other 5α-androstane compounds. The major radioactively labelled steroids identified in the prostatic tissue after [7α-3H]androstenedione infusion were epiandrosterone and androsterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone after [7α-3H]DHA sulphate infusion, although various other 5α-androstane compounds were also present after both infusions. The proportion and identity of radioactive steroids present in the epithelial and stromal portions of the tissue after in-vivo infusion of [7α-3H]testosterone was investigated. Also the ability of separated epithelial and stromal elements of prostatic tissue to metabolize steriods in vitro was studied. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and DHA metabolism in vitro by minced human prostatic tissue yielded various 5α-androstane compounds in addition to DHA and androstenediol (androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol).