Acute stimulation of aromatization in Leydig cells by human chorionic gonadotropin in vitro.
Aromatization of testosterone in Leydig cells purified from mature rat testes was assessed. Leydig cells incubated for 4 hr with increasing concentrations of [3H]testosterone. At saturating concentrations of testosterone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) acutely stimulated aromatization. This stimulation was first observed at 1 hr, an 8-fold increase being found during a 4-hr incubation. The maximal amount of estradiol produced at saturating concentrations of testosterone and hCG was 1.8 ng per 10(6) cells. These results demonstrate that purified Leydig cells have a high capacity for aromatization and that hCG can acutely stimulate aromatization independently of stimulating testosterone synthesis in vitro.
D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D001141:Aromatase