[Absorption of 1 alpha, 2 alpha-3H(n)-testosterone and 4-140-estradiol by reproductive tract primordia of rabbit embryos in vitro].

The time course of uptake of testosterone-1 alpha, 2 alpha-3H (n) and (4-14C)-estradiol by homologous tissue rudiments of the developing reproductive system of rabbit embryos of both sexes was studied in in-vitro experiments from the 18th till the 25th day of development. It was found that the same rudiments of the target organs of the embryos of both sexes are capable of uptaking both hormones. At the "crucial" moment of sexual differentiation (on the 21st day) the uptake of both hormones in the genital tubercle and in the urogenital sinus was greater in female embryos than in male ones. In males, the uptake of androgen was higher than that of estrogen. At the same time the uptake of testosterone-1 alpha, 2 alpha-3H(n) by the genital ducts was higher in male embryos than in female ones.