[Biosynthesis of steroids by human fetal kidney perfused in vitro (author's transl)]

In the present experiments, human fetal kidneys obtained from two fetuses aborted at mid-term (gestational age 21 weeks) were perfused in vitro with labeled precursor including 14G-dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and 14C-dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHA-S). Radioactive metabolites extracted after the termination of perfusion from the perfusate and the tissue were separated the free fraction by ether and conjugate fraction by n-butanol. Furthermore, recovery of the radioactivities were separated and purified by thin layer chromatography. Radiochemical purity of the metabolites were achieved by recrystallization to constant specific activity. When DHA was used as a precursor, in the perfusate, DHA-S, delta 5-Androstenediol, delta 5-Androstenetriol were identified as the metabolites derived from DHA, and they were successively recrystallized. But, when DHA-S was used as a precursor, the radioactive purity of the metabolite was not obtained. The result of this perfusion studies demonstrate a powerful activity of steroids sulfokinase and a slight activity of steroids 16 alpha-hydroxylase, 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in fetal kidney.