The effects of vitamin E deficiency on some enzymes of steroid hormone biosynthesis

The effect of vitamin E deficiency on three enzyme systems involved in steroidogenesis was investigated. No change was found in vitro activity of cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme in adrenal or testicular tissue, or of 11-beta-hydroxylase activity in adrenal tissue. Significantly less 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity was found in ovarian tissue from female rats given a diet deficient in vitamin E for 141 days, and in testicular tissue and adrenal glands from male rats given the deficient diet for 280 days. Testicular tissue from male rats given the deficient diet for 91 days showed considerably less 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity than did tissue from control rats, but the difference was not statistically significant.