title: Steroidogenesis and steroidogenic gene expression in postnatal fetal rat Leydig cells.
abstract: We studied steroidogenesis and the regulation of Leydig cell-specific gene expression in primary cultures of highly purified postnatal fetal Leydig cells (PFLCs). PFLCs activated by hCG and (Bu)(2)cAMP demonstrated transient capacity to produce testosterone (T) in vitro. A time dependent decline in T production by (Bu)(2)cAMP-stimulated PFLCs was observed and associated with the accumulation of progesterone in the culture media and complete suppression of P450c17 expression at the translational but not transcriptional level. PFLCs was found to lose their capacity to express Leydig cell-related genes (e.g., 3βHSD, P450c17, Insl3), which was restored by treatment with (Bu)(2)cAMP. It was also found that PDGFα alone and in combination with (Bu)(2)cAMP significantly stimulated proliferation of the isolated PFLCs in vitro. Our data indicate that cAMP-activated signaling pathway(s) play an important role in the regulation of PFLC differentiation and function.
authors: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit Q2:08, Karolinska Institutet & University Hospital, SE-17176, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Weisser
authors: Luise
authors: L
authors: Landreh
authors: Olle
authors: O
authors: Söder
authors: Konstantin
authors: K
authors: Svechnikov
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D057075:Enzyme Assays; D015870:Gene Expression; D007328:Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D010641:Phenotype; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D007328:Insulin; C084797:Leydig insulin-like protein; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011506:Proteins; D011974:Receptors, LH; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D003994:Bucladesine; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme