The metabolic fate of pregnenolone-7α- 3H and progesterone-14- 14C in the ovaries and fat bodies of female Triturus cristatus carnifex

Abstract

1. 1. The metabolism of pregnenolone-7α- 3H and progesterone-4- 14C was studied in the ovary and fat bodies of Triturus cristatus carnifex. The effect of ovariectomy and fat bodies asportation was examined. 2. 2. From the values of the ratio 3H/ 14C for testosterone it appears that in the ovary the biosynthetic pathway may go through pregnenolone → 17 α-hydroxypregnenolone → dehydroepiandrosterone , while in the fat bodies the preferential pathway is pregnenolone → progesterone → 17 α-hydroxyprogesterone . 3. 3. The amounts of 17 α-hydroxypregnenolone formed by the ovary are much higher than those synthesized by fat bodies. 4. 4. The ovary of fat-body-deprived animals show a different trend with time of 17 α-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone formation, while ovariectomy causes a decrease of dehydroepiandrosterone in the fat bodies.