Steroid metabolism in an androblastoma (Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor): a histopathological and biochemical study

Steroidogenesis in a histologically and ultrastructurally clearly defined Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor ( androblastoma ) was studied by incubation of tumor slices with tritiated and unlabeled pregnenolone. Metabolites were isolated by thin-layer and gel-column chromatography and identified by gas chromatography associated with a radioactivity detector and/or by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Steroids were detected by mass chromatography as the trimethylsilyl- or tert-butyldimethylsilyl ethers. The following steroids were found: progesterone, 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, 5-pregnene-3 beta,20 alpha-diol, 4-androstene-3,17-dione, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, androsterone, and etiocholanolone. The two latter C19-steroids were found to be the principal metabolites. Neither estradiol-17 beta nor estrone were detected. There was evidence from ultramicroscopic studies that in addition to typical Leydig cells, neoplastic stromal and sex cord cells are involved in androgen metabolism.