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Expression of 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 5 in Human Ovary: A Pilot Study

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Abstract

Objective

Conversion of androstenedione to testosterone, the most potent androgen secreted by the ovary, is carried out by androgenic 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) activity. The molecular basis for this is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that type 5 17β-HSD (17β-HSD5) is responsible for testosterone formation from androstenedione in the human ovary.

Methods

We used primers specific for each type of 17β-HSD to identify quantitatively and directly sequence the polymerase chain reaction products of a human ovary library.

Results

17β-HSD1, 17β-HSD4, and 17β-HSD5 were detected in the library lysate, but not 17β-HSD2 or 17β-HSD3. 17β-HSD5 was the predominant androgenic form of 17β-HSD expressed in human ovary.

Conclusion

These data suggest that 17β-HSD5 may play a major role in testosterone biosynthesis by the human ovary. Further investigation of the regulation of 17β-HSD5 gene expression is warranted with regard to ovarian testosterone secretion in normal and abnormal states of ovarian function, such as polycystic ovary syndrome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago Children’s Hospital, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland (M/C 5053), 60637-1470, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Ke-nan Qin MD & Robert L. Rosenfield MD

Authors
  1. Ke-nan Qin MD
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  2. Robert L. Rosenfield MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert L. Rosenfield MD.

Additional information

This work was supported by USPHS grant no. T32 DK-07011, a gift from Lilly Research Laboratories (KQ), and USPHS grant nos. HD-06308 and RR-00055 (RLR).

The authors thank Dr. Samuel Refetoff for helpful advice.

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Qin, Kn., Rosenfield, R.L. Expression of 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 5 in Human Ovary: A Pilot Study. Reprod. Sci. 7, 61–64 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1177/107155760000700109

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