Properties, inducibility, and an improved method of analysis of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in cultured human lymphocytes.

The properties and inducibility of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) in cultured human lymphocytes were studied, and a sensitive method of analysis has been developed. In agreement with other reports, peripheral blood lymphocytes per se had no activity and required pretreatment in culture with a mitogen for conversion to lymphoblasts to possess AHH activity. This activity had an absolute requirement for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate.

Synthesis and biological activity of some ethers of testosterone. Implications concerning the biological activity of esters of testosterone.

The benzyl (2), allyl (4), propyl (10), 3-hydroxypropyl (12), 2,3-dihydroxypropyl (11), 4 pentenyl (7), and pentyl (8) ethers of testosterone were synthesized. Compounds 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, and 12 were found to be almost devoid of anabolic or androgenic activity in a modified Hershberger Assay, but 2,4,10, and 12 were found to be effective inhibitors of testosterone 5alpha-reductase from human skin. These findings suggest that esters of testosterone and of 19-nortestosterone must hydrolyze before interacting with the hormonal receptors, but that the esters may competitively compete with the parent alchohols for interaction with enzymes.