In VitroEffect of 2-Methyl-l,2-bis(3-pyridyl)-l-propanone (Su-4885) and NADPH in the Mouse Adrenal12

Abstract

The metabolism of progesterone-4-¹⁴C by mouse adrenals was studied in vitro following incubation with the inhibitor, 2-methyl-l,2-bis(3-pyridyl) -1-propanone(Su- 4885) alone, and in the presence of added NADPH. Su-4885 (5×10^-5M) inhibited the conversion of progesterone to compounds more polar than corticosterone, as well as to corticosterone itself, with a corresponding accumulation of a number of less polar compounds, particularly ring A reduced metabolites of progesterone and deoxycorticosterone. The addition of NADPH accentuated these reductive pathways. Consideration is given to the possible functional role of reductive pathways in the adrenal cortex. (Endocrinology75: 949, 1964)