Hormonal regulation of testosterone production in short-term primary culture of fetal mouse Leydig cells.
Short-term primary culture of Leydig cells were prepared from 18 day old fetal mouse testes. The cells were cultured in a defined medium supplemented with 1% fetal calf serum, EGF and Insulin. The cells rapidly attached to the plastic culture dish. Seventy to eighty percent of the firmly attached cells stained positively for 3 beta-HSD activity and gradually assumed a flattened epitheloid appearance. The functional activity of these cells in terms of testosterone production and hCG-responsiveness was maintained for 2 days. There was a significant effect of plating density. Pre-culture (24 h) of fetal Leydig cells in the presence of 100 mIU hCG desensitized these cells to a subsequent stimulation by hCG. This is the first report of a short-term primary culture of fetal Leydig cells which demonstrates the maintenance of androgenic activity of these cells in vitro.
D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013997:Time Factors
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D007328:Insulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases