Homogenates of ovaries prepared from pregnant and non-pregnant guinea pigs and incubated in the presence of a THNH-generating system for 90 minutes converted both 3H-dehydroisoandrosterone and 14C-testoterone to estradiol-17β. Under the same conditions adrenal and placental homogenates did not form any recognizable estrogens. The rate of conversion of 3H-dehydroisoandrosterone to estradiol-17β by ovarian homogenates from pregnant and non-pregnant animals was linear up to 30 minutes. The formation of estrone was shown only in the pregnant animal and the rate was linear up to 15 minutes. The formation of estradiol-17β was five-fold higher during pregnancy.

Bhavnani, B. (Supervisor)