title: Androgen and progestogen production in cultured interstitial cells derived from immature rat testis.
abstract: Interstitial cells derived from intact immature rats were cultured as monolayers. Their response to gonadotropins was evaluated by radioimmunoassay of 3',5'-cyclic AMP and steroids in the medium. Steroids were measured either directly (testosterone and progesterone) or after previous oxidation and thin layer chromatographic purification of the steroid extracts (4-androstene-3,17-dione, 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione, progesterone, 5 alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione). It could be demonstrated that these cells respond to gonadotropins with increased secretion of C19- and C21-steroids for at least 10 days. The total amount of steroids secreted in the medium, however, decreases markedly. During the first days of culture C19-steroid production falls dramatically whereas the secretion of C21 derivatives increases. A major fraction of the extracted steroids has undergone 5 alpha-reduction. A characteristic feature of cultured interstitial cells is the bell-shaped profile of the dose-response curve for gonadotropin stimulated androgen production. This profile is the result of a steroidogenic lesion situated at the level of the 17 alpha-hydroxylase and/or 17,20-desmolase and induced by high concentrations of gonadotropins. Daily changes with medium supplemented with LH or FSH, initiated on day 3 of culture, prevent a further loss of steroidogenic potential, restore the ability to produce C19-derivatives, and tend to normalize the dose-response curve for gonadotropin stimulated production of androgens.
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006062:Gonadotropins; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D000077563:Norethindrone Acetate; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D009640:Norethindrone