RESUMO
The metabolism of testosterone in the uropygial gland of the quail principally results in the production of 17 alpha, 5 beta derivatives. Moreover, an unusually small amount of testosterone is converted to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone. These results question the role played by intracellular 5 alpha-reduction in the response of the gland to testosterone stimulation.
Assuntos
Glândulas Exócrinas/metabolismo , Codorniz/metabolismo , Testosterona/metabolismo , 3-Oxo-5-alfa-Esteroide 4-Desidrogenase/metabolismo , Animais , Di-Hidrotestosterona/biossíntese , Di-Hidrotestosterona/isolamento & purificação , Epitestosterona/biossíntese , Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de Massas , Masculino , NADP/metabolismoRESUMO
The in vitro metabolism in the uropygial gland of the male quail results into large yields of 5 beta-reduced and/or 17 alpha-hydroxylated metabolites. This metabolism was studied in glands of sexually quiescent quails five days after a single intra-muscular injection of testosterone to the birds. This treatment led to an increased production of inactive metabolites (epitestosterone and its 5 beta-reduced metabolites) and to a decrease of unmetabolized testosterone. Thus testosterone controls its own metabolism and by this way means to modulate its action in the uropygial gland of quail.