title: Steroidogenic characteristics of in vitro cultured epididymal epithelial cells of the rat.
abstract: The paper presents the steroidogenic features of cultured epithelial cells of rat epididymis and their ability to synthesize steroid hormones. The cytoplasm of epididymal epithelial cells accumulated lipid droplets and contained active enzymes of steroidogenesis. Numerous mitochondria with lamellar cristae occurred near lipid droplets. Frequently, mitochondria formed a direct contact with lipid droplets and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The hormone assay showed that the epididymal epithelial cells cultured without dihydrotestosterone synthesized and released the following steroids: dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone (T) and 17beta-estradiol (E). The levels of DHEA and T were very low. The concentration of E detected in media of cultured epididymal epithelial cells exceeded many times the concentration of E in control media. The cytoplasmic presence of organelles and enzymes that participated in the steroid synthesis indicated their similarity to steroidogenic cells. Epididymal epithelial cells were capable of moderate in vitro synthesis of androgens. It cannot be excluded that steroidogenesis in the cultured epididymal epithelial cells is maintained to sustain 17beta-estradiol synthesis pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Pomeranian Academy of Medicine, 72 Powstancow Wlkp. St., 70111 Szczecin, Poland. barbwisz@r1.pam.szczecin.pl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiszniewska
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000737:chemistry; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D013256:Steroids; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases