Abstract:
Human mammary tissue was incubated in vitro with [7-3H]
dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHA-sulphate) and in agreement with
other investigators this steroid conjugate was metabolized to DHA
and other steroid products. Sulphatase activity was greater in
the malignant than the non-malignant tissues and was found to be a
function of the tissue cellularity. One of the major products, a "polar steroid" necessitated identification.
The "polar steroid" was identified principally as 7a-hydroxy DHA
by chemical modification techniques and co-crystallization of the
purified steroid metabolite with carrier 7a-hydroxy DHA. This
carrier required synthesis and characterization.