Abstract
Summary
20α-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20α-OH-SDH) activity was 6- to 19-fold greater in interstitial than luteal tissue throughout pregnancy. During the peripartal period, 20α-OH-SDH activity in luteal tissue increased more than 3-fold and a significant rise in activity in interstitial tissue was also observed. The increase in ovarian dehydrogenase levels coincided with the appearance of morphological and histological signs of luteolysis. These relationships indicate that increasing 20α-OH-SDH activity can serve as a sensitive index of luteolysis in the rabbit ovary. 17β-OH-SDH activity in luteal tissue also increased during the peripartal period, but the significance of this increase remains to be determined. In contrast to 20α-OH-SDH, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in luteal tissue declined during gestation and no significant changes in isocitrate dehydrogenase or 3β-OH-SDH were observed during the peripartal period.
The collaboration of Jeffery E. Green during a portion of this work is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are due to Mrs. B. Foradori of the Medical School Computer Facility who performed the statistical analysis, and to Mrs. K. Wright who processed the histological material. We are grateful to Drs. K. T. Kirton and G. Duncan of the Upjohn Co. for supplying the 20α-OH-P used in this study.
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