Carnitine and the development of steroidogenesis in rat ovary

We have measured the concentrations of carnitine and the activities of the carnitine acyltransferases in immature rat ovaries which had been stimulated to develop with pregnant mare gonadotropin. The concentration of carnitine increased from 700 nmol/g wet wt. to 1 mumol/g wet wt. of ovary after hormonal administration and the activities of the acyltransferases also rose. These increases corresponded with cell division. After replication had ceased, when the new cells were emerging and actively making steroid hormones, the concentration of carnitine and activities of the transferases fell.