The ability of aromatase inhibitors to induce implantation in mice was tested in animals in which implantation was delayed by ovariectomy and progesterone treatment. Implantation was consistently induced by 7 mg 4-hydroxyandrostene-3,17-dione (4-OH-A), 7 X 5 mg 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD) or 15 mg 4-acetoxyandrostene-3,17-dione, an activity comparable to that of 1 mg testosterone. In intact mice treated with 2 or 10 mg 4-OH-A or ATD/day from Day 2 of pregnancy (Day 1 = vaginal plug), the number and size of implantation sites were not affected. These results may not be necessarily due to inhibitory effects of the compounds on aromatase.