12 alpha-hydroxytestosterone. A hitherto unidentified testosterone metabolite produced by cytochrome P-450 2A2.

Several cytochrome P-450 enzymes are able to hydroxylate testosterone to many different metabolites, some of which remain to be identified. One hitherto unidentified metabolite represents a major metabolite of P-450 2A2, present in the liver of adult male rats, and a minor metabolite of several other cytochrome P-450 enzymes. Using the techniques of HPLC and GC/MS, we have obtained unequivocal evidence that this metabolite is 12 alpha-hydroxytestosterone.