Abstract
17 pairs of fetal ovaries and 26 pairs of fetal testes from 10 to 20 weeks of gestation have been examined for the presence of hilar cells or Leydig cells. Maternal plasma human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) levels were also determined in these cases. It was found that high HCG levels appeared to have little effect on the formation of ovarian hilar cells which were present in small numbers in a proportion of cases from the 13th week onwards. In contrast to these findings, the testicular Leydig cells were noted to be present in large numbers during similar periods of gestation and with similar plasma HCG levels. It is, therefore, assumed that the fetal ovary responds in a less marked manner than the fetal testis to stimulation by HCG during the second quarter of pregnancy.
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