Conversion of Pregnenolone-7α-3H-sulfate to Other Δ5-3β-Hydroxysteroid Sulfates by the Human Fetal Adrenalin Vitro

Abstract

Three human fetal adrenal homogenates, from fetuses of 12, 15 and 19 weeks of gestational age, were separately incubated with pregnenolone-7α-³H-sulfate under conditions in which hydrolysis of the sulfate ester is inhibited. Three metabolites (minimal estimates of conversion in parentheses) were identified: 17α-hydroxypregnenolone sulfate (8.5%), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (1.4%) and 16α-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (1.1%). The pattern of metabolism was identical in the 3 experiments. The results are interpreted as demonstrating a direct pathway of neutral steroid sulfate metabolism in the fetal adrenal gland.