Glucosidation of estradiol-17 beta in the cultured ovaries of the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Metabolic pathways of estradiol-17 beta and other vertebrate steroid hormones of cultured silkworm pupal ovaries were examined using 14C-labeled steroids. The isolated ovaries showed significant uptake and metabolic activity of the 14C-labeled estradiol-17 beta added to the medium. Analysis of the metabolized compounds by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed extensive metabolic conversion of [14C]estradiol-17 beta and estrone; i.e., estrone was reduced to estradiol-17 beta and estradiol-17 beta was metabolized to conjugates, including estradiol-3-beta-D-glucoside and estradiol-17-alpha-D-glucoside. [14C]Testosterone was not transformed appreciably by the ovaries. Metabolic activity and physiological significance of the vertebrate steroid hormones in the silkworm ovaries are discussed.