title: Conversion of androgen to estrogen by the rat fetal and neonatal female gonad: effects of dcAMP and FSH.
abstract: Female gonads of fetal (on days 14.5, 16.5, 18.5 and 20.5 postcoitum) and neonatal rats (on days 4.5 and 8.5 postpartum) were cultured in Medium 199 in the presence of [3H]testosterone and the conversion into [3H]estrone and [3H]estradiol was estimated. Formation of both estrogens was found in all fetal and neonatal ovaries explanted in control medium. Dibutyryl cAMP (1 mM) had a clear-cut stimulatory effect as early as 16.5 days postcoitum, but had little or no effect at 8.5 days postpartum. In contrast, ovine or rat FSH (0.3 or 1 microgram/ml, respectively) increased the aromatase activity only from 20.5 days postcoitum. The effects of FSH and dibutyryl cAMP were more obvious after preculture for 48 h in control medium. These results indicate that: a biochemical sex differentiation, revealed by the difference in aromatase activity levels between ovaries and testes or other tissues occurs in female gonads as early as 14.5 days postcoitum; aromatase activity in the ovaries increases markedly after birth; functional FSH receptors are absent before 20.5 days postcoitum in the ovaries.
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010053:Ovary / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D003994:Bucladesine; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D001141:Aromatase