Brain testosterone metabolism in thyroidectomized and thyroxine-treated chickens.

The metabolism of testosterone to reduced derivatives was studied in the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus, and the hyperstriatum dorsale of thyroidectomized, sham-operated, and thyroxine (T4)-injected immature cockerels. The levels of plasma thyroid hormones were markedly reduced (P less than 0.001) in thyroidectomized cockerels whereas thyroidectomized or sham-operated birds injected daily with 100 micrograms/kg thyroxine had significantly elevated (P less than 0.001) levels in comparison with sham-operated control birds. Each tissue was found to produce significant amounts of 5 beta-androstane-17 beta-ol-3-one (5 beta-DHT), 5 beta-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol (5 beta-3 alpha-diol), and androstenedione. Irrespective of thyroid state 5 beta-DHT and 5 beta-3 alpha-diol were produced to the greatest extent by the hyperstriatum dorsale whereas androstenedione was maximally produced in the pituitary gland. In comparison with the hyperstriatum dorsale and the hypothalamus only small quantities of 5 beta-DHT were produced in the pituitary gland. In the hyperstriatum dorsale of thyroidectomized birds both 5 beta-DHT (P less than 0.05) and 5 beta-3 alpha-diol (P less than 0.1) were formed to a greater extent than in sham-operated birds. This effect was reversed by administration of T4 to the operated birds which reduced the levels to those measured in the sham-operated controls. Similarly, injection of T4 into sham-operated birds decreased (P less than 0.05) the production of 5 beta-DHT in the hypothalamus while in the pituitary gland injection of T4 into thyroidectomized birds reduced the production of androstenedione (P less than 0.05). It was concluded that in the cockerel thyroid hormone is likely to play a role in the metabolism of testosterone. The physiological significance of 5 beta-reductase activity in the neuroendocrine tissues is discussed.