The Induction of a Sexually Lmature Condition in Immature Females by Injeci’ion of the Ovarian Follicular Hormone

The attainment of sexual maturity of the female mammal depends upon the endocrine function of the ovary but it has not been clearly demonstrated to which part of the gonad this is due. In a recent review Marshall (1) writes “It is not known what precise ovarian elements are responsible for the production of the hormone which is an excitant for the development of the female organs and characters or the possible inhibition of the distinctively male ones, . . . . ” Although the physiology of the immature ovary is still quite obscure, Y it is well established that the first ovulation does not usually occur unt,il puberty (2). Consequently no follicles att,ain to full maturity until that time, and there are normally no corpora lut,ea present in the immature ovary. Therefore the follicles and interst’itial tissue are the only two possible sources of the hormone which brings about a sexually ma,ture condition in the fernale. Ovarian interstitial tissue, used as a general term implying a possible endocrine function, is not yet on a firm histological ba&. Several investigaltors have failed to find it in appreciable amounts in mammalian ovaries of several species. It has, however, been especially stressed bv Steinach (3) as a source of production of the hormone which brings aboui sexual maturity in the female. Marshall (p. 346) summarizes t&is conception :