FORMATION AND DESTRUCTION OF MALE HORMONE BY SURVIVING ORGANS

Abstract

Surviving testicles, when perfused with blood, produced comb growth promoting substances; probably testosterone was formed. After adding homologues of testosterone to the perfusion blood, these substances were converted by the testicle into substances with a stronger comb growth promoting effect. Testicle pulp kept in an incubator showed no increased amt. of [male] hormone and was not able to transform homologues of testosterone. When livers and kidneys were perfused with blood containing [male] hormone, only a small part of the added substance was recovered after the expt.; pulped livers and kidneys showed no influence on added 3 hormone.