Steroid secretion by in vitro perfused testes: secretions of rabbit and rat testes
Chubb, C.; Ewing, L.L.
American Journal of Physiology 237(3): E231-E238
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9513 PMID: 474750 Document Number: 147013
Steroids, which are testosterone (nondetectable, 1.7 .+-. 0.3); progesterone (0.4 .+-. 0.05, 0.08 .+-. 0.03); 17.alpha.-hydroxyprogesterone (0.8 .+-. 0.08, 0.9 .+-. 0.1); androstenedione (0.1 .+-. 0.01, 0.4 .+-. 0.04); T (3.3 .+-. 0.2, 13.2 .+-. 0.9); dihydrotestosterone (0.01 .+-. 0.006, 4.2 .+-. 0.3); 3.beta.-DIOL (0.01 .+-. 0.007, 0.8 .+-. 0.1); 3.alpha.-DIOL (0.01 .+-. 0.007, 0.34 .+-. 0.07). In contrast to the rabbit, DIOL was not secreted by rat testes. Only trace amounts of dihydrotestosterone, 3.alpha.-DIOL, and 3.beta.-DIOL were found in the venous effluent of rat testes. Although T was the predominant steroid secreted by rabbit testes, pregnenolone and T secretion rates were similar for rat testes. More than 1 biosynthetic pathway may contribute to the formation of T in rat and rabbit testes.