STEREOSPECIFIC REDUCTION OF PROGESTERONE BY PISUM-SATIVUM

[4-14C]-Progesterone was applied to the leaves of growing pea plants, P. sativum. After 3 wk, about 50% of the administered steroid was reduced, about 20% being reduced to 5.alpha.-pregnane-3.alpha.,20.beta.-diol as the major metabolite. The radioactivities of 5.alpha.-pregnane-3.alpha.,20.alpha.-diol and 5.alpha.-pregnane-3.alpha.,20.beta.-diol after 3 wk were more than twice those after 1 wk. The following radioactive metabolites were also isolated: 5.alpha.-pregnane-3,20-dione; 20.alpha.-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one; 20.beta.-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one; 3.alpha.-hydroxy-5.alpha.-pregnan-20-one; 3.alpha.-hydroxy-5.beta.-pregnan-20-one; 3.beta.-hydroxy-5.alpha.-pregnan-20-one; 20.beta.-hydroxy-5.alpha.-pregnan-3-one; 5.alpha.-pregnane-3.beta.,20.beta.-diol; and 5.beta.-pregnane-3.alpha.,20.beta.-diol. The radioactivities of the 5.alpha.-pregnane derivatives were considerably higher than those of the corresponding 5.beta.-pregnane derivatives.