STEROID SYNTHESIZING CAPACITY OF THE DORSAL BODY OF HELIX-POMATIA L (GASTROPODA) - INVITRO STUDY

1. 1. In vitro studies demonstrated the presence of the enzyme 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) in the dorsal body complex, ovotestis and buccal ganglia of Helix pomatia. 2. 2. Results of incubations with tritiated pregnenolone and tritiated dehydroepiandrosterone indicate substrate specificity of the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. 3. 3. The activity of the two 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases vary independently of each other during different physiological states of the animal. 4. 4. Before oviposition the conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone into androstenedione in all tissues investigated exceeds that of pregnenolone into progesterone. On the contrary, after oviposition this is reversed for the ovotestis. 5. 5. The relative importance of the pathways in steroidogenesis followed in the organs studied is discussed. © 1979.