Hormonal control of Leydig cell differentiation.
Leydig cell progenitors contain significant concentrations of androgen receptors. When the metabolism of DHT to 3 alpha-DIOL is blocked, DHT stimulates testosterone production by Leydig cell progenitors, most probably via an androgen receptor dependent mechanism. Rapid metabolism by 3 alpha-HSD may limit the potency of exogenous DHT to stimulate differentiation of Leydig cell progenitors in vitro. Insulin-like growth factor-I enhances androgen production by purified immature Leydig cells. The elevated sensitivity of immature Leydig cells versus adult Leydig cells to IGF-I stimulation indicates that this peptide hormone has a role in their differentiation during puberty.
Hardy
M P
MP
Department of Population Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
Gelber
S J
SJ
Zhou
Z F
ZF
Penning
T M
TM
Ricigliano
J W
JW
Ganjam
V K
VK
Nonneman
D
D
Ewing
L L
LL
D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000502:physiology; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D000728:Androgens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I