1972 Volume 63 Issue 1 Pages 14-26
Testosterone metabolism in rat ventral prostate was investigated in vitro and the following results were obtained.
1. The rat ventral prostate showed metabolic conversion of 5α-reduction and 17β-ol-dehydrogenation from testosterone, and the former reaction seemed to be more potent than the latter.
2. The activity of 5α-reductase was observed in nuclear fraction and, in lesser amount, in microsomal fraction. The reaction was accelerated by addition of NADPH.
3. The activity of 5α-reductase in ventral prostate increased gradually after birth and reached a maximum level in about 14 weeks. After that, the activity showed a declining tendency on aging. Castration decreased the activity of 5α-reductase, while testosterone administration to castrated rats restored the activity of the enzyme.
4. Testosterone was promptly transfered from the medium to prostatic tissues in vitro. About a half of incorporated testosterone was identified as 5α-dihydro-testosterone. In the nucleus, only 1% of whole incorporated steroid was demonstrated, however, analysis of the steroids in the nucleus showed that almost all of the materials was 5α-dihydro-testosterone.
