Testosterone and androstanediol production by regenerating Leydig cells in the ethylene dimethane sulphonate-treated mature rat.
Mature (60-65 day old) male Sprague-Dawley rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of ethylene dimethane sulphonate (EDS; 100 mg/kg) and were subsequently killed at various times from day 2 to day 40 post-treatment. Testes were removed from these animals and age-matched controls and utilized either for light and electron microscopical analyses or for in-vitro assessment of Leydig cell function. Interstitial cells were prepared by collagenase digestion and used to measure 125I-labelled human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) binding capacity and androgen production in the presence or absence of hCG or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP). At day 2 after EDS treatment, 125I-labelled hCG binding capacity was reduced to 10% of control values, while the production of testosterone and 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol (adiol) were non-detectable. Histological observations confirmed the lack of identifiable Leydig cells at day 2-16 after EDS treatment. Between days 24 and 40 post-treatment, Leydig cell regeneration occurred, as indicated by a rise in 125I-labelled hCG binding capacity, increased androgen production and the presence of histologically identifiable Leydig cells. A pattern of adiol production similar to that seen in the immature rat during Leydig cell development was observed with peak synthesis occurring at day 30 post-treatment. Adiol production fell to barely detectable levels by day 36 and remained low at day 40. It is concluded that the steroidogenic pattern of regenerating Leydig cells in the EDS-treated animal is similar to that of developing Leydig cells in the immature animal.
Myers
R B
RB
Department of Physiology and Endocrinology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912.
Abney
T O
TO
D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000732:Androstanols; D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008698:Mesylates / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012038:Regeneration; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013997:Time Factors
D000732:Androstanols; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D008698:Mesylates; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D013739:Testosterone; C002994:ethylene dimethanesulfonate