Testosterone metabolism by pure and mixed cultures of human corynebacteria

Abstract

The metabolism of testosterone by 21 different corynebacteria has been analysed in pure and mixed culture. In pure cultures, the occurrence of the following enzymic activities was confirmed; 3α(β)‐oxido‐reductase, 4‐ene‐5α(β)‐reductase, 17β‐oxido‐reductase and 17‐isomerase. Mixed cultures, formed by co‐inoculating the pure strains in groups of 3, showed formation of 3β‐hydroxy‐5β‐androstan‐17‐one, which was not detected in pure cultures. Mixing cultures which displayed 4‐ene‐5β‐reductase activity (formation of 17β‐hydroxy‐5β‐androstan‐3‐one(5β‐DHT)) with those showing 17‐oxido‐reductase activity (production of 4‐androstene‐3,17‐dione) sometimes showed evidence for an additive effect, in the formation of 5β‐androstane‐3,17‐dione. Other combinations of strains showed either no effects or inhibitory effects on 5β‐androstane‐3,17‐dione formation. Strain groupings based on the amounts of 5β‐DHT or 4‐androstene‐3,17‐dione, as assessed by densitometry of autoradiographs, showed some correlation with previously published groupings based on whole cell protein patterns [1].

Production of malodorous steroids from androsta-5,16-dienes and androsta-4,16-dienes by Corynebacteria and other human axillary bacteria

“…The formation of malodorous 3-oxo-steroids 6 and 7 from the non-odorous sterols 1, 5 , and 8 is central to the production of under-arm odour. This is consistent with the observation that pure apocrine secretions are odourless until incubated with certain microfloral bacteria [7,8]. Furthermore, our results corroborate observations that 3-oxo-steroids 6 and 7 can be isolated from axillary sweat [13,35] whereas sterols 1, 5, and 5 were detected in only very small amounts [13,14,35,41].…”

“…Axillary (under-arm) malodour is known to be attributable in part to steroidal compounds [2][3][4], especially 16-androstenes [5,6]. Since freshly produced apocrine sweat is odourless [7,8], and was thought to contain little or no 16-androstenones [9], it had been supposed that a non-odourless steroid in freshly produced apocrine sweat undergoes transformation into odorous 16-androstenes catalysed by species in the axillary microflora. Axillary odour has been particularly associated aerobic Coryneform sp.…”

Olfaction in humans with special reference to odorous 16-androstenes: their occurrence, perception and possible social, psychological and sexual impact

“…The evidence suggests that the C21 steroids can be hydroxylated and side-chaincleaved while the Ci9 steroids are transformed by means of 4-ene-5a(ß)-reductases, 3 (ß)-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (3a(ß)-HSD) and 17ß-HSD, to ring A saturated 17-oxo steroids. Thus far, only tentative evidence has been obtained for the formation of 5a-androstenone from testosterone (Nixon et al 1987) but preliminary data, obtained using negative-ion electron capture mass spectrometry, indicate that traces of androstadienone were formed by incubating dehydroepiandrosterone sulph¬ ate (present in apocrine sweat) with a human aerobic Corynebacterial strain .…”

Testosterone metabolism by human axillary bacteria

“…Although androstenone is probably a product of microbial action in the axilla [3], its origin remains uncertain. What is certain is that many axillary aerobic coryneform bacteria possess the ability to metabolize testosterone [4,5].In this communication, we have used a UAO model system in vitro to screen axillary bacterial isolates for production of UAO, and have related this to their ability to transform testosterone.Preliminary experiments showed that some skin bacteria, principally aerobic coryneforms, produced typical UAO when incubated with extracts of the axillary vault skin. Axillary extracts were collected by scrubbing the axillary vault with 5 ml of diethyl ether contained in a 2 cm diameter Teflon cylinder.…”

“…Although androstenone is probably a product of microbial action in the axilla [3], its origin remains uncertain. What is certain is that many axillary aerobic coryneform bacteria possess the ability to metabolize testosterone [4,5].…”