Estrogen synthesis and metabolism in the hamster blastocyst, uterus and liver near the time of implantation.

The steroidogenic potential of hamster tissues, just prior to implantation of the blastocyst in the uterus, was characterized by incubating blastocysts (14) and pieces of endometrium with [1, 2-3H]-androstenedione for 24 h. [3H]-2-Methoxyestradiol was synthesized, but intermediate estrogens were not found. To obtain a more quantitative assessment and comparison of steroidogenic activity, especially aromatase activity, in these tissues as well as in the uterine myometrium and liver and to increase the possibility of recovering estradiol, microsomes were isolated from 244 blastocysts and portions of the other tissues. Microsomes were incubated with [1 alpha, 2 alpha-3H]-testosterone plus [1 beta,2 beta-3H]-testosterone for 6 h. During this time [3H]-metabolites were synthesized by all tissues as indicated by HPLC. [3H]-Androstenedione was noted and values were higher than control levels (medium alone or microsomes from uterine flush fluid) in all samples but liver. [3H]-Estradiol was detected at an elevated level only in the blastocyst sample; however, addition of unlabeled estradiol during the subsequent incubation of endometrial, myometrial and liver microsomes increased the recovery of [3H]-estradiol. Identities of [3H]-2-methoxyestradiol from the first experiment and [3H]-androstenedione and [3H]-estradiol from the second experiment were confirmed by recrystallization. The formation of 3H2O from [beta-3H]-testosterone was used as an index of aromatase activity. After subtracting control medium values, blastocysts were 24-fold more active (dpm/microgram protein) than the endometrium and myometrium in synthesizing 3H2O. While there was no difference in synthetic potential between endometrium and myometrium, aromatase activity in these tissues was greater than that of the liver. Microsomes from uterine flush fluid displayed no capacity for synthesizing 3H2O indicating that the elevated blastocyst levels were not caused by contaminating endometrial cells. These results indicate that all of the tissues examined have the capacity to metabolize C19-steroids to a variety of hormones, including estrogens, and further, that estrogen metabolism occurs rapidly in these tissues. This capacity may be important for providing a suitable hormonal milieu at the time of implantation.