BIOSYNTHESIS AND SECRETION OF TESTOSTERONE BY ADRENAL-TISSUE FROM NORTH-AMERICAN OPOSSUM, DIDELPHIS-VIRGINIANA, AND EFFECTS OF TROPIC HORMONE STIMULATION

Abstract

The synthesis and secretion of corticosteroids and testosterone by the adrenal cortex of the North American opossum Didelphis virginiana has been studied. In vitro, tissue from adult females has the capacity to synthesise testosterone from [3H] pregnenolone and [14C] progesterone in yields similar to those of cortisol. From endogenous precursors, values for testosterone production, measured by RIA, were about 1 30th of those for total corticosteroid as measured by CPB. Testosterone output from endogenous precursors was stimulated by the addition of FSH or LH to the incubation media, whereas ACTH had no effect. Corticosteroid output was stimulated by both ACTH and LH, but not by FSH. In vivo,..