SOME ASPECTS OF STEROID BIOSYNTHESIS IN HUMAN OVARIAN TISSUE

A method is described for the incubation of small amounts of human ovarian tissue with isotopically labelled steroid substrates in the presence of ovine F. S. H. The products are analysed by paper chromatography after preliminary purification by silica gel chromatography and determined by liquid scintillation counting. The method has been applied to samples of ovarian tissue, using 14C-progesterone, 14C-androst-4-enedione and 14C-testosterone as substrates. The tissues were also examined histologically. The results reveal differences in steroid transformations between the various components of pre- and post-menopausal ovarian tissue.