Effects of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Upon Steroid Aromatization in Vitro

Steroids labeled with 3H in positions 1 and 2 were incubated with rat ovary slices, and the formation of tritiated water determined. During three hr at 37°, approximately 3.5, 10.0, and 15% of the total tritium present in progesterone-1,2-3H, androstenedione-1,2-3H, and testosterone-1,2-3H respectively was converted to 3H2O by 100 mg of tissue. The addition of FSH had no effect upon the aromatization of any of the substrates tested, although one of the preparations tested contained a contaminant that significantly inhibited the aromatization of androstenedione.