R. Horton, J. Tait
1967
Citations
2
Influential Citations
118
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
Abstract
ABSTRACT The peripheral conversion of dehydroisoandrosterone (D) to plasma androstenedione (A) and testosterone (T) was studied by constant infusion of labeled D and isolation of both precursor and product steroid from plasma. The metabolic clearance rate (MCRd) of D in 8 normal subjects was 1640 ± 93 (se) liters/day. The transfer constant , the proportion of D converted to A as measured in plasma, was 6.2 %. The transfer constant , the proportion of D converted to T in plasma, was only 0.7%. The product of the MCRd and available values for plasma D concentration indicates a plasma production rate of 7 mg/day. From the production rate and transfer constants it can be calculated that D is a minimal peripheral precursor of both plasma A and T in the normal adult female. In abnormal states of virilization with normal or moderate increases in D production, the increased plasma A and T in these states are not due to peripheral conversion of D in blood. The experimentally determined value of 0.7 % is in reasona...