STEROID SULFATASE ACTIVITY IN THE HUMAN OVARIAN CORPUS-LUTEUM, STROMA, AND FOLLICLE - COMPARISON TO ACTIVITY IN OTHER TISSUES AND THE PLACENTA

Steroid sulfatase activity was measured in 89 human samples, using dehydroepi-androsterone sulfate (DHEAS) as substrate. The lowest activity was that of follicular fluid which was significantly lower than that of other tissues tested (each P <0.01). The steroid sulfatase activity of ovarian tissue taken collectively (corpus luteum, stroma, and follicles) was higher than that of other tissues taken collectively (abdominal skin, uterus, and fallopian tube) (P < 0.001), and the steroid sulfatase activity of either the follicle (P < 0.01) or the stroma (P < 0.05) was significantly greater than that of the corpus luteum. The geometric mean steroid sulfatase activity of the placenta was significantly higher than other tissues tested (each P <0.01) and was 22-fold higher than that of the follicle, the tissue with the next highest activity. These data indicate that the human ovary (particularly the stroma and follicle) is capable of utilizing DHEAS, an adrenal product, as a substrate for production of other androgens such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, and testosterone. © 1990.