Figure 8

Proposed model of the effects of DES on ovarian steroidogenesis. (A) During the initial phase, DES inhibits both LH secretion from the pituitary and expression of steroidogenesis-related genes in theca cells. (B) After recovery of LH/LHR signaling, theca cell androgen and granulosa cell estrogen production continued to be suppressed by reduced Cyp17a1 and Cyp19a1 expression via direct actions of DES on ovary.