Modulation of steroidogenic activities in testis leydig cells

• Published in: Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 15 - 28
• Main Authors: Rommerts, F.F.G., Brinkman, A.O.
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 1981
• Subjects: Aging; Animals; Aromatase - metabolism; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cell Separation; Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme - metabolism; Chorionic Gonadotropin - administration & dosage; Chorionic Gonadotropin - pharmacology; Cycloheximide - pharmacology; Estradiol - metabolism; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - pharmacology; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - metabolism; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - pharmacology; Hydroxyprogesterones - metabolism; Leydig cell; Leydig Cells - drug effects; Leydig Cells - metabolism; LH mechanism of action; Luteinizing Hormone - pharmacology; Male; oestradiol; Oxidoreductases - metabolism; Phosphorylation; Pregnenolone - metabolism; Protein Kinases - metabolism; Rats; Receptors, Cell Surface - drug effects; Receptors, LH; Sertoli Cells - drug effects; Sertoli Cells - enzymology; steroidogenesis; testosterone; Testosterone - metabolism; LH mechanism of action; steroidogenesis; oestradiol; testosterone; Leydig cell
• ISSN: 0303-7207; 1872-8057
• DOI: 10.1016/0303-7207(81)90026-5

Recent developments in the regulation of testicular Leydig-cell function support the following conclusions. 1. (1) Enzymic activities involved in steroid production in the testis are mainly localized in Leydig cells. The aromatase enzyme complex for oestrogen production appears to be localized in Leydig cells as well as in Sertoli cells. 2. (2) LH- (or hCG-) induced alterations of Leydig cells depend on dose and duration of exposure of the cell to the hormone. Locally produced oestradiol is probably involved in the inhibition of steroidogenesis. 3. (3) The stimulatory action of LH on Leydig cells involves different proteins in concert with the activation of the cleavage activity of mitochondrial cholesterol side-chain. However, most of the functional properties of these proteins are yet unknown. 4. (4) Different populations of Leydig cells are present in the testis. These different cell populations can be characterized by quantitatively and qualitatively different responses to hormones.