Hay M F, Allen W R
J Reprod Fertil Suppl. 1975 Oct(23):557-61.
Gonadal tissue obtained at about 50-day intervals from Days 60 to 300 of gestation was examined histologically, histochemically and in the electron microscope. The marked enlargement of the gonads (ovaries or testes) reached a peak around Day 250 and was caused by hypertrophy and hypoplasia of interstitial cells. These cells had all the ultrastructural characteristics of a steroid-secreting cell but delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) was not detected at any stage of their development. There was no significant change in the ultrastructure of the interstitial cells between Days 100 and 250 except for a progressive increase in the number of dense bodies. By Day 300 the fetal gonads had begun to regress and degenerative changes were apparent in the interstitial cells. The possible mechanisms controlling the growth of the fetal gonads and their function in steroidogenesis is discussed.
对妊娠60天至300天期间每隔约50天获取的性腺组织进行了组织学、组织化学和电子显微镜检查。性腺（卵巢或睾丸）的显著增大在第250天左右达到峰值，这是由间质细胞的肥大和发育不全引起的。这些细胞具有类固醇分泌细胞的所有超微结构特征，但在其发育的任何阶段均未检测到δ5-3β-羟基类固醇脱氢酶（3β-HSD）。除了致密体数量逐渐增加外，第100天至250天期间间质细胞的超微结构没有显著变化。到第300天，胎儿性腺开始退化，间质细胞出现退行性变化。本文讨论了控制胎儿性腺生长及其类固醇生成功能的可能机制。
