WIDESPREAD TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF STEROID SULFATASE, 3-BETA-HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE DELTA(5)-DELTA(4) ISOMERASE (3-BETA-HSD), 17-BETA-HSD 5-ALPHA-REDUCTASE AND AROMATASE ACTIVITIES IN THE RHESUS-MONKEY

Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), the main secretory product of the human adrenal, requires the presence of steroid sulfatase, 3 beta -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Delta(5)-Delta(4) isomerase (3 beta-HSD) , 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HSD), 5 alpha-reductas e, and aromatase to form the active androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the estrogens 17 beta-estradiol (E(2)) and 5-androst-ene-3 beta,1 7 beta-diol (Delta(5)-diol) in peripheral target tissues. Because huma ns, along with non-human primates are unique in having adrenals that s ecrete large amounts of DHEA-S, the present study investigated the tis sue distribution of the enzymatic activity of the above-mentioned ster oidogenic enzymes required for the formation of active sex steroids in the male and female rhesus monkey. Estrone and DHEA sulfatase activit ies were measured in all 25 tissues examined, and with the exception o f the salivary glands, estrogenic and androgenic 17 beta-HSDs were pre sent in all the tissues examined. The adrenal, small and large intesti ne, kidney, liver, lung, fat, testis, prostate, seminal vesicle, ovary , myometrium, and endometrium all possess the above-mentioned enzymati c activities, thus suggesting that these tissues could possibly form t he biologically active steroids E(2) and DHT from the adrenal precurso r DHEA-S. On the other hand, the oviduct, cervix, mammary gland, heart , and skeletal muscle possess all the enzymatic activities required to synthesize E(2) from DHEA-S. The present study describes the widespre ad tissue distribution of steroid sulfatase, 3 beta-HSD, 17 beta-HSD, 5 alpha-reductase, and aromatase activities in rhesus monkey periphera l tissues. Such findings support the importance of developing therapeu tic approaches to the treatment of sex steroid-sensitive diseases whic h take into account the formation of androgens and estrogens in periph eral target tissues.