title: Differentiation of Leydig cell precursors in vitro: a role for androgen.
abstract: An enriched fraction of mesenchymal-like cells was isolated from the testes of 21 day old rats. Testosterone production (ng/10(6) cells.24 hours) by these cells when cultured in vitro was measured by radioimmunoassay of HPLC-purified extracts of culture medium. In the presence of LH + DHT there was a significant increase in testosterone secretion from 22 +/- 10 ng after day 1 of culture to 284 +/- 75 ng on day 3 (P less than 0.01). By contrast, LH or DHT alone were without significant effect. We conclude that LH alone is insufficient but that androgen and LH induce mesenchymal-like Leydig cell precursors from 21 day old rats to produce testosterone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Dynamics, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene & Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Kelce
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Klinefelter
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ewing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone