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Metabolism of Progesterone and 17α-Hydroxypregnenolone by the Foetal Human Testis in vitro

Abstract

THE biosynthetic pathways of androgens in the adult mammalian testis have recently been fully described1. The pathways include the formation of testosterone from pregnenolone through progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone2, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone3. Although androstenedione was thought to be the common precursor for testosterone in both pathways, the importance of androstenediol as an alternative intermediate step in the latter pathway has been seen in the rabbit testis4.

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IKONEN, M., NIEMI, M. Metabolism of Progesterone and 17α-Hydroxypregnenolone by the Foetal Human Testis in vitro. Nature 212, 716–717 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/212716a0

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