Effect of Various C19‐Steroids upon the Production of Progesterone and 17α‐Hydroxyprogesterone by Preovulatory Hamster Follicles in Culture

Preovulatory follicles (591–740 μm) were isolated from immature golden hamsters 72–78 h after the administration of 40 IU PMSG and cultured for 4 h in the presence or absence of androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone or 5α-dihydrotes-tosterone. Dose-dependent increases in the output of progesterone and 17α-hydroxy-progesterone were caused by each of the C19-steroids tested and this stimulation was not dependent upon the synthesis of new mRNA or protein.