AROMATIZATION OF ANDROSTENEDIONE BY LIMBIC SYSTEM TISSUE FROM HUMAN FOETUSES

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Limbic structures have been implicated in the control of gonadotrophin secretion and sexual behaviour in immature and mature animals and human beings (Schreiner & Kling, 1956; Critchlow & Elwers Bar-Sela, 1967; Velasco & Taleisnik, 1969; Harris & Naftolin, 1970). Although little is known of their cellular metabolism, these areas have been shown to bind radioactivity after the injection of androgens or oestrogens in the intact animal (Pfaff, 1968; Stumpf, Baerwaldt & Sar, 1970). The finding of aromatization of androgens by human foetal hypothalamus (Naftolin, Ryan & Petro, 1971) prompted us to look for the existence of similar enzyme systems in limbic tissues. Central nervous system tissue was dissected from two 17-week-old (11·5 and 10·5 cm crown-rump length) male foetuses within 30 min of hysterotomy at therapeutic abortions done for psychiatric indications. The pregnancies had been unremarkable and no abnormalities were found in the foetuses. Limbic tissue was sharply dissected utilizing

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: