THE simultaneous occurrence of two or more estrogens within the same animal has been a frequent topic for conjectural discussions as to possible physiologic and biochemical implications. It is the opinion of some that estradiol (α and β) is the hormone secreted by the Graafian follicle and that estrone, though present in the follicular liquor, is derived from it. Furthermore, there is good evidence for believing that the two estradiols and estrone undergo interconversion in the body and this possibility receives additional support from the results of in vitro experiments. It is also thought that estriol may be derived from estrone. However, estriol has been isolated only from human material, although a substance with similar physiologic and chemical properties has been obtained from other animals following the administration of estrone. Probably the most direct evidence that such a conversion can take place in the human being is the observation by Pearlman, Pearlman and Rakoff (1) who gave deuterio-estrone acetate to 2 women in late pregnancy and obtained the same conversion rate to estriol as for nonpregnant women and men.
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Hisaw et al. (1954) studied this question.