title: Gonadotrophic stimulation of androgen secretion by the early fetal pig ovary in organ culture.
abstract: An influence of gonadotropins on steroid secretion by the early fetal ovary of the domestic pig was shown by organ culture and radioimmunoassay. Gonads from fetuses at Days 32-37 of gestation were cultivated singly for 9-12 days in biologically supplemented medium. One member of each pair of gonads was exposed to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or ovine luteinizing hormone (LH), and the other served as a control. A marked stimulating effect on androgen secretion was noted with both gonadotropins. The major androgen found was androstenedione, with secretion rates of greater than 200 ng/gonad per 24 h for some explants exposed to hCG. Little or no androstenedione production occurred unless gonadotropin had been added to the culture medium. Lesser amounts of testosterone (usually less than 5% of the total of androstenedione and testosterone) were present. The data demonstrate a remarkable latent capacity for androgen biosynthesis by the early fetal pig ovary.
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects; D011974:Receptors, LH; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011974:Receptors, LH; D000735:Androstenedione; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone