Steroid-synthesizing cellular sites in amphibian ovary. A histochemical study

Abstract

Ovaries from four oviparous Anura (Rana cyanophlyctis, Rana tigrina, Rana verrucosa, and Cacopus systoma) were histochemically studied for the distribution of NADH and NADPH diaphorase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and Δ⁵-3β -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Δ⁵-3β -HSDH). Both the diaphorases and the G-6-PDH were distributed throughout the ovary. A weak Δ⁵-3β -HSDH activity was demonstrated in the follicular cells of large previtellogenic, vitellogenic, and mature follicles and also in the interstitial cells. Δ⁵-3β -HSDH activity found in the granulosa lutein cells of the postovulatory corpora lutea was maximum on the day of spawning and decreased markedly thereafter and its disappearance was associated with the degeneration of these cells. During the early stage of atresia of vitellogenic follicles a very weak Δ⁵-3β -HSDH activity was found in the hypertrophied granulosa cells, but this soon disappeared.