Conversion of Androstenedione to Estrone by Neural Tissues from Fetal and Neonatal Rats¹²

Abstract

Incubation of hypothalamic and limbic system homogenates from 21-day rat fetuses and 1, 5, 10-day-old or adult rats with Ε4- androstene-3-17-dione 7-3H resulted in the formation of 3H-estrone by all tissues with the exception of the limbic system from the female fetuses. In each paired experiment the activity in male tissues exceeded that of the females. In general, the activities of perinatal tissues either equaled or exceeded those of comparable adult tissues. These results support the hypothesis that neuroendocrine effects of androgens on fetal, neonatal, prepubertal and adult rats could be mediated by estrogen metabolites. (Endocrinology94: 117, 197.4)