[Tissue sources of sex steroids in rat ovaries during the preovulatory period].

The method of quantitative histoenzymological analysis was used to determine the extent of participation of various structures of the ovary in the provision of the preovulatory synthesis of sex hormones. The activity of steroid dehydrogenases (3beta, 17beta, and 20alpha-OH), glucoso-6phosphric dehydrogenases, NAD and NADP-diaphorases was investigated. The synthesis of sex hormones proved to be realized by the mobilization of all the ovarian structures. At the early proestrus enhanced estrogen synthesis was provided by mature follicles, interstitial glands and the old corpora lutea. In the mid proestrus the active sources of progesterone and 20alpha-hydroxypregh-4en-3on synthesis are young corpora lutea and follicles; at this time the interstitial glands and old corpora lutea synthesized mainly the progesterone derivative.