Leshin M, Baron J, George F W, Wilson J D
J Biol Chem. 1981 May 10;256(9):4341-4.
The henny feathering trait in chickens leads to a marked increase in the conversion of androgen to estrogen in skin and other peripheral tissues with the result that feathers of affected males are feminized. To gain insight into the mechanisms responsible for this increased estrogen synthesis, we studied the conversion of testosterone to estrogen in fibroblasts cultured from the skin of control chickens and from two breeds carrying the henny feathering trait, the Sebright bantam and the Campine. Estrogen synthesis was measured in suspensions of intact fibroblasts and in cell-free fibroblast extracts by two assays: 1) direct measurement of 17 beta-estradiol formation from [1,2,6,7-3H]testosterone, and 2) assessment of 3H2O release from [1 beta-3H]testosterone. Both assays gave comparable results. Estrogen formation was as much as several hundred-fold higher in fibroblasts cultured from skin of chickens carrying the henny feathering trait compared to that observed in fibroblasts from skin of control chickens. The current data indicate that increased estrogen formation in skin of chickens with the henny feathering trait is due to an enhanced activity of the aromatase complex of enzymes responsible for estrogen synthesis. The molecular basis for this increased activity is unclear.
鸡的母鸡羽性状会导致皮肤和其他外周组织中雄激素向雌激素的转化显著增加，结果是受影响雄性的羽毛呈现雌性化。为深入了解导致雌激素合成增加的机制，我们研究了从对照鸡皮肤以及携带母鸡羽性状的两个品种（塞布赖特矮脚鸡和坎皮恩鸡）皮肤培养的成纤维细胞中睾酮向雌激素的转化。通过两种测定方法在完整成纤维细胞悬液和无细胞成纤维细胞提取物中测量雌激素合成：1）直接测量从[1,2,6,7-³H]睾酮形成的17β-雌二醇，以及2）评估从[1β-³H]睾酮释放的³H₂O。两种测定方法给出了可比的结果。与对照鸡皮肤成纤维细胞相比，携带母鸡羽性状的鸡皮肤培养的成纤维细胞中雌激素形成高出数百倍。目前的数据表明，具有母鸡羽性状的鸡皮肤中雌激素形成增加是由于负责雌激素合成的芳香化酶复合物活性增强。这种活性增加的分子基础尚不清楚。
