Synthesis of [3α-3H]-Dehydroepiandrosterone and [3α-3H]-pregnenolone

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1344(199803)41:3<221::AID-JLCR70>3.0.CO;2-Y

[3α-³h]-dehydroepiandrosterone ([3α-³h]-3β-hydroxy-5-androsten-17- one) and [3α-³h]-pregnenolone ([3α-³h]-3β-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one) were prepared by selective reduction of 3-keto-5-ene intermediates with tritiated sodium borohydride. These were used as substrates to set up a tritium release assay for 3β-hydroxysteroid oxido-reductase and 5→4-ene isomerase (3β- HSD) which is a key enzyme in steroidogenesis.