Abstract
The metabolism of 3H-testosterone by the seminiferous tubules, prostate and muscle from immature rats was studied in short-time organ culture. The formation of the sum of 3H-5α-reduced products by the seminiferous tubules was similar to that by the prostate and was much higher than that by the muscle. 3H-5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol was the main metabolite in the seminiferous tubules, while 3H-17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one was the main metabolite in the prostate. Following incubation of tissue explants with 3H-testosterone and immediate separation of the tissue from the medium, the seminiferous tubules contained relatively higher concentrations of the 3H-5α-reduced products and radioactive less polar products than 3H-testosterone or 3H-androst-4-ene-3, 17-dione. After hydrolysis of the radioactive less polar products with potassium hydroxide, 72% of the radioactivity was recovered as 3H-5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol. These findings seem to indicate that the seminiferous tubules have a character of androgen-responsive tissue.
