Androgen metabolism in the skin of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Pieces of skin of male and female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were incubated with testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone as substrates. In immature fish the conversion rate was low. In non-spawning adult males 11-ketotestosterone was reduced to 5α-11KDHT (up to 5.2%). In the fish in spawning condition the 5α-reduction rate was only about 1 to 2%. In the same specimens incubated with testosterone a high 11β-hydroxylase activity (23.8-25% in the male and 13% in the female skin) was found. Similar sex specific differences were observed for the occurence of 5α-reduced metabolites (about 20% in the male and 13% in the female tissue).