title: Hormonal control of Leydig cell differentiation.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gelber
authors.forename: Z F
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Penning
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ricigliano
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Ganjam
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nonneman
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ewing
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I