Androstenedione metabolism in streptozotocin diabetes and fasting male rats: Similarities and differences

Abstract The oxidation products of androstenedione catalysed by liver microsomes from streptozotocin-diabetic and fasting male rats have been studied. Diabetic and starved rats displayed increased activity for 7α androstenedione hydroxylase and diminished activity for 16a androstenedione hydroxylase in comparison to the normal animals. Insulin treatment to diabetic rats did not antagonize the changes observed in untreated diabetic rats. Opposite to the diabetic state, the rate of 6β-OHA and 2β-OHA formation were increased in the course of the starved periods. The results suggest that under diabetes and fasting conditions distinct alterations occur in specific individual cytochrome P-450s.