Estrogen formation in vitro by fetal liver, fetal adrenal gland, and placenta of early human pregnancy

Massive Extraglandular Aromatization of Plasma Androstenedione Resulting in Feminization of a Prepubertal Boy

“…As data accrued, the presumed physiological model was altered to include the metabolic sequence depicted in Fig. 2 [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]A by oxidation with t-butyl chromate according to the method of Menini and Norymberski (18). Tracer purification methods have been described previously (16 …”

“…We have studied a prepubertal boy with advanced feminization, but (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10); however, the level of expression of these enzymes diminishes rapidly after birth. Thus, the continued expression of the fetal levels of both the aromatase and sulfokinase enzyme activites after birth could give rise to increased estrogen formation from plasma prehormones and give rise to feminization such as that observed in this child.…”