STEROID BIOSYNTHESIS IN VITRO BY TISSUE FROM A GRANULOSA CELL MULTILOCULAR CYSTADENOMA

Abstract

SUMMARY: A granulosa cell multilocular cystadenoma was removed from a 7-yr.-old girl who showed breast growth and had a history of almost continuous vaginal bleeding for 9 days. Tissue, which microscopically was shown to consist almost exclusively of granulosa cells, was incubated with [4-¹⁴C]-DHA and [7-³H]pregnenolone in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution. The ability of this tissue to synthesize oestrogens from these precursors was investigated. These results and those of pre- and post-operative urinary steroid estimations are discussed in relation to current theories of steroid biosynthesis.