Widespread tissue distribution of steroid sulfatase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ54isomerase(3β-HSD), 17β-HSD5α-reductase and aromatase activities in the rhesus monkey

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Abstract

Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), the main secretory product of the human adrenal, requires the presence of steroid sulfatase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ54isomerase(3β-HSD), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase(17β-HSD), 5α-reductase, and aromatase to form the active androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the estrogens 17β-estradiol (E2) and 5-androst-ene-3β,17β- diol (Δ5-diol) in peripheral target tissues. Because humans, along with non-human primates are unique in having adrenals that secrete large amounts of DHEA-S, the present study investigated the tissue distribution of the enzymatic activity of the above-mentioned steroidogenic enzymes required for the formation of active sex steroids in the male and female rhesus monkey. Estrone and DHEA sulfatase activities were measured in all 25 tissues examined, and with the exception of the salivary glands, estrogenic and androgenic 17β-HSDs were present in all the tissues examined. The adrenal, small and large intestine, kidney, liver, lung, fat, testis, prostate, seminal vesicle, ovary, myometrium, and endometrium all possess the above-mentioned enzymatic activities, thus suggesting that these tissues could possibly form the biologically active steroids E2 and DHT from the adrenal precursor DHEA-S. On the other hand, the oviduct, cervix, mammary gland, heart, and skeletal muscle possess all the enzymatic activities required to synthesize E2 from DHEAS. The present study describes the widespread tissue distribution of steroid sulfatase, 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD, 5α-reductase, and aromatase activities in rhesus monkey peripheral tissues. Such findings support the importance of developing therapeutic approaches to the treatment of sex steroid-sensitive diseases which take into account the formation of androgens and estrogens in peripheral target tissues.

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      In humans, aromatase is expressed in both the granulosa and luteal cells of the ovary, and also in various extraglandular sites including the placenta, brain, bone, testis, and adipose tissue. As we stated earlier, all four genes are found not only in classic steroidogenic tissues (placenta, adrenal cortex, ovary, and testis) but also in several peripheral tissues, such as adipose tissue, breast, lung endometrium, skin, prostate, liver, kidney, brain, as well as in skeletal muscles (Aizawa et al., 2007; Labrie, Simard, et al., 1992; Labrie, Sugimoto, et al., 1992; Martel et al., 1994; Milewich et al., 1993; Pelletier et al., 1992; Sato et al., 2008). This chapter provides the information for the role of DHEA for glucose and lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle as well as introduces the effect of the elevation of DHEA level on muscle hypertrophy especially for type 2 diabetic and older aged adults.

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    Present address: Vandeibilt University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Nashville, TN 37232-2515, USA.

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