Regional distribution of steroids in the dog epididymis.

Concentrations of delta 4 androstenedione, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone were measured in the post-nuclear supernatant of the dog epididymis. In addition, they were measured in the efferent ducts and the testis. From the efferent ducts to the corpus there was a significant decrease in testosterone and delta 4 androstenedione concentrations. On the contrary, the concentration of dihydrotestosterone increased from the efferent ducts to the corpus where this steroid predominated. The marked differences in steroid concentration along the epididymis of the dog suggested regional differences in androgen metabolism.