Regulation of ovarian 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity by gonadotropin.

Serum testosterone levels are elevated prior to the lutropin surge, and decline abruptly following the release of endogenous lutropin. To investigate this phenomenon, the activity of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, the enzyme directly related to testosterone production from androstenedione, was measured. This was done in immature rats in which follicular maturation and ovulation were induced by pregnant mare serum gonadotropin administration. It appears that the effect of the gonadotropin on the enzyme activity is sharply divided into two phases that match with the follicular and the luteal phases. One day following gonadotropin administration, there was already a 7.67-fold increase in the original activity which further increased 48 h following hormone administration. At the peak of the lutropin surge, when follicular development is at its maximum, a 18.44-fold increase was measured. The activity fell abruptly 10 h following ovulation, at a time when fresh corpora lutea are already present in the ovary. It seems that the elevation of serum testosterone followed by its abrupt decline, is directly related to the increased and decreased ovarian 17 beta-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase activity. The possible importance of the observed changes to the mechanism of the onset of puberty are discussed.