EFFECT OF bis(p-HYDROXYPHENYL)-CYCLO-HEXYLIDENEMETHANE (F6060) ON THE CONVERSION OF PREGNENOLONE TO Δ4-3-KETOSTEROIDS IN VITRO

Abstract

ABSTRACT Bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-cyclohexylidenemethane (F6060) is shown to inhibit the in vitro conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone and other Δ4-3-ketosteroids. A 50% inhibition was noted at ∼ 1·10−4 m F6060. Diethylstilboestrol also showed a comparable inhibitory action under the conditions used but 17β-oestradiol did not affect pregnenolone oxidation. Incubations were performed with the 10 000·g supernatant of human ovarian structures; rat ovaries and adrenals. As a substrate 14C-labelled pregnenolone was used. Radioactive conversion products were determined by thin layer chromatography followed by quantitative scanning. The part of reaction products more polar than pregnenolone tended to increase when progesterone production was moderately inhibited by F6060 in human ovarian homogenates.