INFLUENCE OF GONADAL HORMONES ON THE METABOLISM OF CORTISONE

Abstract

Liver homogenates from adult male rats reduced the 17,21-dihydroxy-20-ketone sidechain of cortisone more rapidly than did similar preparations from female rats. Conversely, the female preparation metabolized the [DELTA] 4-3 ketone group at a faster rate than did the male. The ratio A-ring reduction/sidechain reduction for the female is 3.4; for the male it is 0.88. The sex difference in the metabolism of the sidechain of cortisone is not present in rats younger than about 25 days of age but becomes evident by the time the animals are 30 days old. Gonadectomy and injections of estradiol-17[beta] and testosterone indicate that the male hormone promotes the ability of the liver to reduce the sidechain of cortisone while the female hormone has an inhibitory effect.