Abstract
In 1930 Engelhart reported the preparation of lipoid extracts from adrenal glands, which produced oestrous and progestational effects in the uterus of the immature rabbit. These findings were confirmed by Callow & Parkes [1936], who showed that the active principles could be separated by the method of Allen & Meyer [1933]. In 1938 the isolation of progesterone, together with 3:20-allo-pregnanolone, was announced [Beall & Reichstein, 1938; Beall, 1938]. Oestrone has now been isolated from two ox adrenal concentrates. A preliminary report of this work appeared last year [Beall, 1939]. By the courtesy of N. V. Organon, Oss, Holland, two adrenal concentrates, both possessing a marked oestrogenic activity, were placed at the disposal of Dr. A. S. Parkes and made available to the author. As a preliminary step, the first concentrate was saponified with hot alcoholic potash, the greater part of the oestrogenic activity appearing in the alkali-soluble fraction.