Histochemical Demonstration of the Hydroxysteroid Oxidoreductases in the Umbilical Cord and Membranes of Human Term and Immature Placenta

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Abstract
Formazan deposition was used as indicator to study the localization of the 3-[beta]- and 17-[beta]-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductases in the umbilical cord and membranes of human term placenta and in the placenta, cord, membranes and skin of a 10-week fetus. The localization of the staining reactions varied with the. steroids and pyridine nucleo-tides used. With 17[beta]-estradiol and NAD, formazan deposition was localized in the trophoblasts, epithelium of the cord and reflected membranes of the term placenta and 10-week fetal placenta. With 17[beta]-estradiol and NADP, and with testosterone and NAD and NADP, formazan depositions occurred in the trophoblasts of the 10-week fetal placenta but not in the term placenta. These results suggest the possibility that the trophoblasts lose 17-[beta]-hydroxysteroid oxidoreduc-tase activity with testosterone and with 17[beta]-estradiol and NADP some time after the 10th week of gestation. The skin of a 10-week fetus gave a positive staining reaction for 17-[beta]-hydroxysteroid oxidoreduc-tase with 17[beta]-estradiol and NAD. Positive staining reactions for NAD-linked 3-[beta]-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase were observed in the trophoblasts, amnion, chorion and the connective tissue of the cord of a 10-week fetal placenta and term placenta.

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