Ovarian Physiology

Abstract

Steroidogenesis by the OvaryThe schema of steroidogenesis generally considered to be applicable with only slight modification to all steroid-forming tissue is shown in Figure 2. The steps from pregnenolone‡ onward have a complexity that is due to the permutations and combinations of about 6 types of chemical reactions at 11 sites on the molecule. When the steroid carbons are considered in numerical sequence as shown in Figure 3, the important reactions are as follows:1. At positions 3 and 5: The change from the 3β-hydroxyl, 5 double bond (as in cholesterol) to the 3-ketone, 4 double bond, or Δ⁴–3 ketone . . .