[Metabolism of pregnenolone 16-3H and progesterone 4-14C by 18 day fetal mouse gonads in organotypic culture. Effect of the gonadotropic hormone LH].

Fetal mice testes convert pregnenolone-16-3H and progesterone-4-14C to testosterone in organ culture. The 3H/14C ratio in progesterone and testosterone fractions isolated from culture media suggests the importance of the delta5-3 beta hydroxysteroid pathway in our experimental conditions. LH decreases radioactive testosterone production and increases the activity of the kelta4-3-ketosteroid pathway.