Role of 11 -Hydroxyprogesterone as Intermediary in Biosynthesis of Cortisol and Corticosterone.

Abstract

To resolve the uncertainty which exists concerning the role of 11[beta]-hydroxyprogesterone as an intermediary in corticosteroidogenesis, trace amounts of C14-ll[beta]-hydroxyprogesterone, C14-progesterone, and C14-desoxycorticosterone (DOC) were incubated with homogenates of adrenocortical tissue prepared in various media. These homogenates, which synthesize corticoids from endogenous precursors, hydroxylated C14-ll[beta]-hydroxyprogesterone at both the C-21 and C-17 positions, producing cortisol and corticosterone. However, the limited extent of these conversions relative to that of known precursors (progesterone and DOC) indicates that 110-hydroxyprogesterone is not a major intermediary in the biosynthesis of these corticoids from progesterone.