Steroid Interaction in the Metabolism of Reproductive Target Organs1

NVESTIGATIONS OF THE PARTICIPATION of the steroid hormones in the regulation of the structure and function of the vertebrate reproductive tract comprise a dominant phase of current biological research. Not long after the early observa-tions that crude extracts of the gonads possessed sexogenic properties, it became evident that the manifold morphological and functional manifestations of sexual phenomena depended upon a rather precise hormonal homeostasis. The role of estro-gens, progesterone, androgens and corticosteroids as modifiers of these phenomena has been the subject of many scholarly reviews (cf. 8, 67, 193). Nevertheless, little is known of the proximate functions of these biocatalysts as regulators in the meta-bolic processes associated with sexual functions. A thorough understanding of the metabolic basis for hormonally-induced altera-tions in the activity of the reproductive target organs will ultimately require an inte-grated knowledge of the multifarious actions and interactions of all the hormones. In the present review it will be necessary to limit the discussion almost exclusively to the steroid hormones. Emphasis will be placed on the end effects in the reproduc