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Abstract
The enzyme 17α-hydroxylase catalyzes the conversion of progesterone to 17α-hydroxyprogesterone in the testis and may be studied with the use of incubation of testicular tissue with [3H]progesterone in vitro. The enzyme 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase catalyzes the conversion of progesterone to 20α-dihydroprogesterone. These enzymes were studied in testicular tissue from 105 human males regarding the effects of aging, different pathophysiological conditions, and gonadotrophic or estrogenic treatment.
17α-Hydroxylase activity was low in vitro in testicular tissue from prepubertal boys, adult men with pituitary tumors, and estrogen-treated elderly men. In nontreated elderly men and certain infertile adult men, 17α-hydroxylase was more active than in the above-mentioned patient groups, albeit lower than in adolescent and adult men. Gonadotropic treatment increased the conversion mediated by 17α-hydroxylase in prepubertal as well as adult testicular tissue.
In conclusion, the activity of 17α-hydroxylase may be influenced by gonadotrophic hormones and may be an indicator of the testiclar endocrine state at the moment of biopsy. Testicular 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase seems to be active during low gonadotrophic influence and might even be inhibited by gonadotrophic stimulation.