Abstract
The following studies were undertaken to compare testicular steroidogenesis in the mature and immature baboon. Testicular fragments (50 mg) were incubated for 3 hr with [7- 3H]pregnenolone, or with [7- 3H]progesterone. The mature testis formed more testosterone (4.6%), androstenedione (1.6%), and progesterone (28.5%) from pregnenolone than did the immature testis (0.6, 0.5, and 26.1%). The immature testis formed more 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (34.7%) and 20α-dihydroprogesterone (23.2%) from pregnenolone than did the mature testis. Similar conversions were obtained in progesterone incubates. 5α-Androstanediol was identified only in mature incubates. These results suggest that the mature baboon testis has greater C 17-C 20 lyase, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and 5α-reductase activities than the immature testis, while the immature testis has greater 20α-reductase activity.
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