The use of pig hepatocytes to study the biotransformation of beta- nortestosterone by pigs. Identification of glucuronidated 15 alpha- hydroxy-norandrostenedione as an important in vitro and in vivo metabolite

LA Hoogenboom, MC Berghmans, A Van Veldhuizen and HA Kuiper

State Institute for Quality Control of Agricultural Products, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Porcine hepatocytes were used to examine the biotransformation of beta- nortestosterone (NOR). Initially, the major metabolite of NOR was norandrostenedione (NA), which upon prolonged incubation was further transformed, primarily to the glucuronide of 15 alpha-hydroxy- norandrostenedione (15 alpha OH-NA). No differences were observed in this pattern between hepatocytes isolated from livers of sows or castrated male pigs. With increasing culture age, the rate of formation of NA did not change, contrary to a decrease in its further oxidation and glucuronidation. 15 alpha-OH-NA, primarily as its glucuronide, was identified in the urine of pigs injected with NOR. In addition, NA and the glucuronide of the parent compound were present in much smaller amounts.

Volume 18, Issue 6, pp. 999-1004, 11/01/1990
Copyright © 1990 by American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics