Hormonal regulation of LH stimulation of testosterone production in isolated Leydig cells of immature rats: the effect of hypophysectomy, FSH, and estradiol-17beta.
Testosterone production in isolated Leydig cells from testes of immature and adult rats was stimulated by addition of LH in a dose dependent way. Hypophysectomy of adult rats had no influence on LH-stimulated testosterone production in isolated Leydig cells after 5 days. In contrast hypophysectomy of immature rats resulted after 5 days in an almost complete loss of LH sensitivity of isolated Leydig cells. Daily adminitration of FSH during 5 days starting immediately after hypophysectomy maintained LH responsiveness of isolated Leydig cells of immature rats. Also FSH administration starting on day 5 after hypophysectomy resulted in a restoration of LH responsiveness. Estradiol benzoate, injected simultaneously with FSH, abolished the FSH-induced LH responsiveness.
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011375:Progesterone Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D011375:Progesterone Reductase