Androgen hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases under the influence of pyridoxine derivatives

The metabolism of testosterone in the rat ventral prostate, anterior pituitary, basal hypothalamus and amygdala was studied in vitro under the influence of vitamin B6 compounds. The influence of these compounds on the activity of 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha-R), 3 alpha- and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 alpha-HSD, 17 beta-HSD) was determined for all the examined tissues. Pyridoxine hydrochloride significantly increased the activity of 5 alpha-R, 3 alpha- and 17 beta-HSD, but pyridoxal hydrochloride had an inhibitory influence on 5 alpha-R and showed no effect on 3 alpha-HSD activity at the prostate level. Male rat anterior pituitary, basal hypothalamus or amygdala incubated with pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxal hydrochloride showed modified enzymatic activities. Pyridoxal hydrochloride showed an inhibitory effect on 5 alpha-R in the rat pituitary and basal hypothalamus as well as in the rat prostate.