Increase of steroid-producing cells in interrenal tissue and masculinization of gonads after long-term treatment of juvenile rainbow trout with cyanoketone.

Cyanoketone administered via the food (0.1, 0.2 and 2 mg/g) for 8 weeks from the first feeding (day 46 after fertilization) or via the aquarium water (3 and 30 mg/100 l) for 4 weeks from day 41 does not influence the activity of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) in the interstitial cells of the gonads or interrenal cells of juvenile trout in vivo. However, the number of 3 beta-HSD-positive interrenal cells was strongly increased by administration of the highest dose of cyanoketone via both routes. These high doses furthermore affect the sex ratio in favor of males. It is concluded that interrenal tissue is responsible for the masculinizing effect of cyanoketone via increased production of androgens and/or corticosteroids. Cyanoketone at concentrations of 0.01 to 100 micrograms/ml causes a dose-response inhibition of 3 beta-HSD activity in the interrenal cells, when the substance is administered to an incubation medium for demonstration of this enzyme in tissue sections. The controversial in-vivo and in-vitro effects of cyanoketone on 3 beta-HSD activity are discussed.