Androgens in the bovine fetus and dam (38567).

Umbilical arterial and venous blood, and fetal testes were taken from 38 bovine fetuses at 90, 180 or 260 days of gestation. Concurrently blood also was taken from the jugular, and from the uterine artery and vein of the dams. Testosterone and androstenedione were determined by radioimmunoassays. Fetal testicular homogenates had 0.96 and 0.35 mug/g of testosterone and 0.39 and 0.50 mug/g of androstenedione at 180 and 260 days of gestation, respectively. Males had five to tenfold more serum testosterone and about twofold more androstenedione than female fetuses at each trimester of gestation. Male fetal blood testosterone decreased (P less than 0.01) from 2.7 to 0.3 ng/ml between 90 and 260 days of gestation. But, maternal testosterone and androstenedione increased (P less than 0.05) during gestation in cows with males, but not in cows with female fetuses. Testosterone was higher (P less 0.05) in cows carrying males than in cows with female fetuses. Androstenedione was higher in blood leaving the placenta on both the maternal and on the vetal sides suggesting placental synthesis of androstenedione.