Metabolism of Labelled Steroid Precursors by Normal Bovine Adrenal Medulla in vitro . ∗

Abstract

Summary

1) Normal bovine adrenal medulla can effect the following reactions in vitro: a) Transformation of a straight-chain precursor (acetate) into steroid tetracyclic structures; b) Double bond shifting from Δ⁵ to Δ⁴ with concomitant oxidation at C₃; c) Introduction of -OH groups at specific sites of the pregnane nucleus and d) Conversion of C₂₁ to C₁₉ steroids. 2) It has consistently failed to metabolize cholesterol to corticosteroids. 3) It has shown in several steroid biosynthetic reactions a greater responsiveness to diphospho- and triphospho-pyridine nucleotides than the cortex.