No abstract

Sperm of secondary male groupers (Epinephelus tauuina), derived from females implanted with 17a-methyltestosterone (MTj, were incubated with [3H117-hydroxyprogesterone for 2 hr. The medium was extracted and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A single major metabolite with relative retention time corresponding to 17a,20a-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,201~-P) was produced by the sperm. The metabolite was isopolar with 17,201~-P on thin layer chromatography (TLCj. The presumptive identity of the metabolite was confirmed to be 17,20a-P when the metabolite was oxidised by periodic acid and the derivative recrystallized with authentic androstenedione to specific constant activity. This experiment indicates that grouper sperm possess the enzyme, 20a-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20a-HSD1, and suggests that 17,20a-P may play a role in grouper reproduction. 0 1995 wiley-~iss, Inc.