In vitro Steroidogenesis in Porcine Corpora Lutea1

Luteal tissue from nonpregnant sows was incubated with eight 14C-labeled precursors to determine the steroidogenic capabilities of this tissue. Eleven different 3H-steroids were used as internal indicators to permit the calculation of quantitative conversion data. The tissue was shown to be capable of transforming precursors to pregnenolone, progesterone, 17α-hydroxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, 20α- and 20β-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, estrone and estradiol. The Δ 5 pathway was investigated, and although transformations of a 17α-hydroxy pregnenolone to dehydroepiandrosterone and of dehydroepiandrosterone to androstenedione were demonstrated, the conversion of pregnenolone to 17α-hydroxypregnenolone could not be confirmed, suggesting that this pathway has limited, if any, significance in this tissue.