THE METABOLISM IN VITRO OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE AND DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE SULPHATE BY SERTOLI CELL TUMOURS OF THE TESTIS OF TWO DOGS WITH CLINICAL SIGNS OF HYPEROESTROGENISM

Abstract

A comparative study was made of the metabolism in vitro of [4-¹⁴C] dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and [7α-³H]DHA sulphate by Sertoli cell tumours removed from two dogs with feminization and alopecia, respectively, and by a normal dog testis. The formation of oestrone, oestradiol-17β, oestradiol- 17α and oestriol, from either precursor, was not significantly different in the two tumours from that in the normal testis. The inversion of the relative production of androstenedione and testosterone from DHA by one of the tumours compared with the normal testis is discussed in the light of the clinical findings. The transformation of DHA sulphate to C₁₉ steroids by normal and neoplastic testicular tissue and to testosterone sulphate by the neoplasms is described.