Abstract
OESTROGENS are synthesised in large amounts by the placenta in several species including man and domestic animals. They occur in the foetal circulation as inactive sulphoconjugates1 formed by a detoxifying mechanism that protects the foetus from the detrimental effects of high levels of these potent hormones. In the adult sheep, oestradiol-17β exerts feedback effects on gonadotrophin secretion by the adenohypophysis, as in other mammals2. In the foetal lamb the pituitary and adrenal are essential in the onset of parturition for hypophysectomy results in the prolongation of gestation, and the infusion of adreno-corticotrophic hormone (ACTH) or glucocorticoids induce delivery3. The factors that regulate the activity of the foetal adenohypophysis in late pregnancy are unknown.
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JENKIN, G., HEAP, R. Formation of oestradiol-17β from oestrone sulphate by sheep foetal pituitary in vitro. Nature 259, 330–331 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/259330a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/259330a0
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