Demonstration of a Pituitary Gonadotrophin Hormone Activity in the Male Foetal Mouse

The testosterone production by 18-days-old foetal mouse testis was measured in an organ culture system, by RIA in the culture medium. This production was time-dependent, and could be stimulated by ovine LH and age-matched foetal pituitary. The gonadotrophin activity derived from foetal pituitary appeared to be released into the culture medium as a limited reserve. These data clearly show that a biologically active gonadotrophin material is present in the pituitary of the 18-days-old mouse foetus.