Metabolism of 16 alpha-hydroxytestosterone by cytochrome P-450 in rat liver.

The metabolism of 16 alpha-hydroxytestosterone by cytochrome P-450 system was studied with two different inductions. At least 5 different metabolites with higher polarity were produced from 16 alpha-hydroxytestosterone. MT-B, one of their products, appeared to be specifically increased by 3-methylcholanthrene- and phenobarbital-inducible P-450, respectively. This suggests that monohydroxylated testosterones are further metabolized by the P-450 system and that the reactions are isozyme specific. This can contribute at least in part to the diversity of steroid metabolism by P-450.