Androstenediol, a Probable Intermediate in thein VitroConversion of Dehydroepiandrosterone to Testosterone by the Rabbit Testis

Evidence for the existence of a pathway for the conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone to testosterone via androstenediol was observed in the whole homogenized rabbit testis in vitro. The mean conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone to androstenediol was 3.7%, and it increased to 23% when the alternative pathway was blocked. The latter was identified by its chromatographic mobility, by recrystallization to constant specific activity, and by measuring the free form in a gas chromatograph. When the enzymatically prepared androstenediol was incubated with rabbit testis homogenates, it was converted irreversibly to testosterone in a yield averaging 17 %. (Endocrinology75:299, 1964)