Formation of Dehydroepiandrosterone Duringin Vivoandin VitroBiosynthesis of Testosterone by Testicular Tissue

Abstract

Evidence in favor of a role for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the in vivo and the in vitro biosynthesis of testicular androgens is presented as follows: Sodium acetate-1-C¹⁴ was incorporated into testosterone and DHEA by slices of rabbit testis in. vitro. The incorporation into both steroids was increased by gonadotropic stimulation in vitro or in vivo. Homogenate of rabbit testis converted DHEA-4-C¹⁴ acetate to testosterone-C¹⁴, but neither testosterone-4-C¹⁴ nor androstenedione- 4-C¹⁴ was converted to DHEA-C¹⁴ by this tissue. Infusion of DHEA-4-C¹⁴ acetate via the spermatic artery of the dog led to the presence of testosterone-C¹⁴ in the testis and in the spermatic vein blood. Infusion of androstenedione- 4-C¹⁴ and of testosterone-4-C¹⁴via the spermatic artery produced no demonstrable DHEA-C¹⁴ in either testis or spermatic vein blood. (Endocrinology74: 35, 1964)