Premium
Biosynthesis of 3β‐hydroxy‐5,7‐pregnadien‐20‐one by the horse fetal gonad
Author(s) -
Tait A.D.,
Hodge L.C.,
Allen W.R.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(83)80139-2
Subject(s) - horse , gonad , biosynthesis , fetus , biology , chemistry , andrology , biochemistry , endocrinology , medicine , genetics , pregnancy , gene , paleontology
The production of equilin and the other ring B‐unsaturated estrogens by the pregnant mare is anomalous in that they are biosynthesised by a cholesterol‐independent pathway. Fetal horse gonads were incubated with tritiated sodium acetate and radiochemically pure 3β‐hydroxy‐5,7‐pregnadien‐20‐one and 3β‐hydroxy‐5,7‐androstadien‐17‐one were isolated. A fetal gonad‐placental system is proposed for equilin production, 3β‐hydroxy‐5,7‐pregnadien‐20‐one being a precursor for 3β‐hydroxy‐5,7‐androstadien‐17‐one in the fetal gonad and the latter being the precursor of equilin in the placenta. The nature of the possible precursor of 3β‐hydroxy‐5,7‐pregnadien‐20‐one is discussed.