Steroid metabolism in testicular tissue of genetic mutant mice

The conversion of testosterone and progesterone to other products was studied in testes of normal BALB/C mice, testieular, feminized (Tfm o+) and testicular feminized mice carrying the protective (ohv) gene. The formation of testosterone from progesterone was 11 ± 1.3% in normal mice, 2.20 ± 0.8% in (Tfm ohv) and 0.8 ± 0.2% in (Tfm o+ mice. With androstenedione as substrate, both (Tfm o+) and (Tfm ohv) synthesized testosterone equally well. Testicular progesterone metabolism was also compared between normal and sex reversed (sxr) mice. The data suggested that the 17β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was more active in normal mice whereas the testes from the sex reversed (Tfm ohv) gave higher conversions to androstenedione. Some conversion to dihydrotestosterone and androstanediol was found in all the testicular incubations.