Steroid Metabolism of a Sertoli Cell Tumour of the Testis of a Dog With Feminization and Alopecia and of the Normal Canine Testis

Abstract

The metabolism of [7\g=a\-3H]pregnenolone and [4-14C]dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) by a Sertoli cell tumour of the testis from a dog with signs of feminization has been studied in vitro and compared with the metabolism of the normal canine testis.The tumour formed oestrone and oestradiol-17\g=b\ from DHA thus providing direct evidence for the synthesis of oestrogen by this type of neoplasm.Relative or complete inactivity of several enzyme systems involved in the synthesis of testosterone was found in the tumour tissue, and the conversion of either precursor to testosterone was considerably less than in the normal testis.Suggestive evidence is presented for the occurrence of steroid-specific 17\g=a\-hydroxylase and 3\g=b\-hydroxysteroiddehydrogenase-isomerase systems in canine testicular tissue.The formation of sulphates of pregnenolone and DHA was shown both in normal and in neoplastic tissues and, in addition, the tumour either formed the sulphate of 17\g=a\-hydroxypregnenolone or caused the 17\g=a\-hydroxylation of pregnenolone sulphate.

A study of the in vitro metabolism of androgens by human scalp and pubic skin

“…5-Androstene-3^, 17^-diol and 5a-androstane-3j?, 17^-diol show a tendency to cocrystallize but can be distinguished by further crystallization of their oxidation products. During oxidation with chromic acid (Bush 1961) [7a-^H]5a-androstane-3jS, 17^-diol is converted to [7a-^H]5a-androstanedione while [7a-^H]5-androstene-3j9, i7j?-diol is converted to 4-androstene-3,6, 17-trione with loss of 7a-^H (Pierrepoint et al, 1967).…”

Testosterone and Oestradiol in Dogs With Testicular Tumours

“…Indeed in some Sertoli cell tumours an oestrogenic substance has been detected by Huggins 8c Moulder (1945), while Pierrepoint et al (1967) have demonstrated that Sertoli cell tumour tissue of feminized dogs can convert dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone to oestrone and oestradiol-17/?. Indeed in some Sertoli cell tumours an oestrogenic substance has been detected by Huggins 8c Moulder (1945), while Pierrepoint et al (1967) have demonstrated that Sertoli cell tumour tissue of feminized dogs can convert dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone to oestrone and oestradiol-17/?.…”

“…The incidence of testicular tumours is higher in the dog than in any other species, almost all are derived from Sertoli-, interstitial-, or spermatogonial cells; teratomas have never been recorded (Dow 1962). Sertoli cell tumour tissue seems capable of converting under in vitro conditions dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone to oestrone and oestradiol-17/3 (Pierrepoint et al 1967). The presence of an oestrogenic substance in some of these tumours (Huggins 8c Moulder 1945) and in the urine of affected dogs (Brodey 8c Martin 1958;Siegel et al 1967) has been demonstrated.…”