Active steroidogenesis in the normal rat skin

Using the radiolabeled precursors of adrenal steroids C-14-11-deoxycorticos terone (DOC) and C-14-progesterone (C-14-PROG) we demonstrate that rat skin can synthesize a number of steroids. TLC separation of labeled metabolites show that among the C-14-steroid products, two co-migrate with corticoster one (B) and 11-dehydrocorticosterone (A) standards. Thus, normal rodent ski n possesses steroidogenic activity that can be shown using progesterone or DOC as primary substrates. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.