STEROID SYNTHESIS IN VITRO BY TUMOUR TISSUE FROM A DYSGENETIC GONAD

Abstract

SUMMARY A tumour of a dysgenetic gonad was removed from an 18-yr.-old girl, who had presented with primary amenorrhoea and poor breast development. Examination showed clitoral hypertrophy, and chromosome analysis showed a normal male 46/XY karyotype. Microscopically, cells of both ovary and testis were recognized in the tumour. Incubation of the tissue with [4- 14 C]progesterone in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution showed its capacity to synthesize testosterone and oestradiol-17β. 16α-Hydroxyprogesterone was also formed during the incubation.