In vitro studies on steroid metabolism by gonadal tissues from ambisexual teleosts. I. Conversion of [ 14C]testosterone by males and females of the protogynous wrasse Coris julis L

Gonadal tissue of females, and primary and secondary males of the protogynous wrasse Coris julis were incubated with labeled [ 14C]testosterone. The large majority of metabolic products consisted of free, neutral steroid. Marked 11β-hydroxylation was restricted to testes from secondary males. 5β-Reduction of ring A was predominant in both types of males, whereas ovarian tissue from normal females produced a larger share of 5α-androstanes. The metabolic products of ovaries from females that were injected with testosterone 7 days before incubation were similar to those of untreated females, although the ratio of 5α 5β reduced steroids was changed toward the “male type”.