Androgen metabolism in rat anterior pituitary cells in culture

The metabolism in vitro of 4 androgens, namely testosterone, androstenedione, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and 3 alpha-androstanediol has been studied in male and female rat anterior pituitary cells in primary culture. When testosterone was used as precursor, androstenedione, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and 3 alpha-androstanediol were the main metabolites whereas androstendione was mainly converted into testosterone, 5 alpha-androstanedione, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and androsterone. Studies on the metabolism of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and 3 alpha-androstanediol showed that these compounds were easily interconverted and were also significantly metabolized to 5 alpha-androstanedione and androsterone. No aromatized compounds could be detected suggesting that androgen action in the pituitary cell occurs directly via the androgen receptor rather than through prior conversion into estrogens.