METABOLISM OF FREE AND SULFOCONJUGATED DHEA IN BRAIN TISSUE IN VIVO AND IN VITRO

Two rhesus monkey brains were perfused in vivo either with 14C-DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) and 3H-DHEA sulfate or with 3H-DHEA. Plasma from the jugular vein and the brain were analyzed for free and conjugated metabolites. Many more free than sulfoconjugated steroids were withdrawn from the blood. These were not stored to a large extent. Up to 16% of DHEA were metabolized to ring D hydroxylated Δ5-compounds. When fresh human fetal brain was incubated with 3H-DHEA, 5.9% of the free steroids were sulfurylated. 30% were converted mainly to ring D hydroxylated Δ5-metabolites. © 1968.