STUDIES ON THE UPTAKE AND BINDING OF 5α-ANDROSTANE-3α,17α-DIOL BY CANINE PROSTATIC NUCLEI

Abstract

SUMMARY: Nuclei have been isolated from canine prostatic tissue previously incubated with tritiated testosterone or tritiated 5α-androstane-3α,17α-diol. The protein-bound radioactivity has, in both cases, been shown to be associated with 5α-androstane-3α,17α-diol. The formation and translocation of this steroid to the nucleus supports previous evidence that it has an active part to play in prostatic function in the dog. The formation from testosterone of another tritiated steroid, possibly 5α-dihydrotestosterone, was also demonstrated although this product did not enter the nucleus and was apparently bound to the nuclear membrane.