[The culture and identification of rat testis Leydig cell].
OBJECTIVE
To establish a primary culture method of rat testis Leydig cell.


METHODS
The primary rat Leydig cells were treated with or without 4 U/ml human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and testosterone in culture medium was detected by radioimmunoassay. The morphology and biological characteristics of Leydig cell were observed.


RESULTS
The culture cells were highly homogeneous, proliferative and had a high differentiation rate. The high purified Leydig cells were verified by their dynamic morphological changes and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase delta4-delta5 isomerase (3beta-HSD) histochemical staining. The testosterone secretion induced by hCG significantly increased (P < 0.05) 24 hours after inoculation than that induced without hCG in the control.


CONCLUSIONS
It suggests that the Leydig cell cultured in vitro may secrete high concentration of testosterone, and this study laid the basis of androgen replacement therapy for partial androgen deficiency in aging male.
Department of Biology, Preclinical Medicine School, SUN Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
Jian-zhong
JZ
Liu
Hai-bin
HB
Guo
Chun-huaz
CH
Deng
Yong-hong
YH
Ou
Ai-ping
AP
Peng
D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013739:Testosterone; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases