Formation of a 16,17-trans-glycolic metabolite from a 16-dehydro-androgen in human fetal liver microsomes

This study aimed to investigate if the human fetus can form epoxides during the oxidation of double bonds. Indirect evidence for this was obtained using 4,16-androstadien-3-one as substrate o f the liver microsomal drug oxidation enzyme system. Human fetal liver microsomes were shown to catalyze the formation of the corresponding 16,17-glycol, a reaction that is thought to proceed via an intermediary 16,17-epoxide. The findings may imply that the human fetus is also capable of forming epoxides from certain drugs that contain double bonds.