Perinatal hamster gonadal androgen and estradiol production in vitro and response to hCG.
Testes or ovaries from fetal and neonatal hamsters (day 14 or 15 of gestation, the day of birth, or on day 1 or 2 of neonatal life) were incubated for 4 h in vitro with or without the addition of 10 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to the medium. Release of androgen or estradiol into the medium at hourly intervals (testicular androgen) or after 4 h (all other groups) was estimated using radioimmunoassays. Fetal testes produced large amounts of androgen and were highly responsive to hCG. Androgen production and hCG sensitivity declined at birth and with increasing neonatal age. Testicular estradiol production and ovarian androgen and estradiol release followed the same pattern of a prenatal peak in basal release and hCH sensitivity. Release levels by the ovaries were exceedingly low when compared to testicular androgen release.
D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D008297:Male; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
D000728:Androgens; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004958:Estradiol