Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1990-4-2
pubmed:abstractText
Previous reports from this laboratory indicate that the 5 alpha-reductase, the enzyme which converts testosterone into its "active" metabolite 5 alpha-androstan-17 beta-ol-3-one (dihydrotestosterone, DHT) is highly concentrated in the white matter structures of the CNS, which are mainly composed of myelinated fibers. No studies have been performed up to now, in order to evaluate the possible presence of the 5 alpha-reductase activity in peripheral myelinated nerves. To this purpose the 5 alpha-reductase activity has been evaluated in the sciatic nerve of the rat and compared to that present in the cerebral cortex and in the subcortical white matter, a central structure mainly composed of myelinated fibers. The study has been performed in normal adult male rats (60-90-day-old) and in aged (20-month-old) animals. The data obtained in 60-90-day-old animals indicate the presence of an active metabolism of testosterone at the level of the sciatic nerve. In this structure, testosterone is actively transformed into DHT and 5 alpha-androstan-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol (3 alpha-diol); in the sciatic nerve, the formation of DHT is equal to that found in the subcortical white matter and higher than that found in the cerebral cortex. Moreover, at variance with what happens in CNS structures, where 3 alpha-diol is produced only in small amounts, in the sciatic nerve this metabolite is produced in amounts similar to those of DHT. The study in aged rats has shown that in the sciatic nerve, the formation of DHT and particularly that of 3 alpha-diol are much lower than in younger animals. No age-related variations in the 5 alpha-reductase activity in the cerebral cortex and in the subcortical white matter have been observed.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0022-4731
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
35
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
145-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2010-11-18
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1990
pubmed:articleTitle
Testosterone metabolism in peripheral nerves: presence of the 5 alpha-reductase-3 alpha-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase enzymatic system in the sciatic nerve of adult and aged rats.
pubmed:affiliation
Institute of Endocrinology, Milano, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't