Abstract
Summary
Activity of the steroidogenic enzyme, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is demonstrable after 9 days in culture of cells derived from term rat fetal ovaries. Since this is the time at which the dehydrogenase appears in the ovaries of the intact postnatal animal, this enzyme apparently differentiates normally in tissue culture according to a timetable which is inherent in ovarian cells and independent of extraovarian influence. Thus, a model is provided for study of the differentiation of a specific enzyme in mammalian tissue culture, and further suggests that the differentiation of other mammalian enzymes may be sought in tissue culture.
The authors thank Mary K. Baker, Esther Levy, and Gwendolyn Peyton for their technical assistance.
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