The effect of in vitro androgen stimulation upon androgen metabolism and trophic parameters in cultured human epididymis

• Published in: Andrologia Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 9
• Main Authors: Vazquez, M H, de Larminat, M A, Scorticati, C, Blaquier, J A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.01.1989
• Subjects: 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases - metabolism; 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Aged; Androgens - metabolism; Androgens - pharmacology; Dihydrotestosterone - metabolism; Epididymis - cytology; Epididymis - enzymology; Epithelial Cells; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Organ Culture Techniques; Testis - cytology
• ISSN: 0303-4569

Previous results obtained with a model system of human epididymal tubules maintained in organ culture suggested that androgenic stimulation of this tissue resulted in responses similar to those obtained in epididymides of experimental animals under physiological conditions, as well as in other human androgen-dependent tissues. In this instance we have explored the possible influence of androgens on the activity of the androgen-converting enzymes 5 alpha-reductase and 17 beta-dehydrogenase. Activity of the former enzyme increases significantly during the culture period but no differences were found among the cultured groups, regardless of the addition of androgen. On the other hand, the activity of 17 beta-dehydrogenase was unchanged in all the experimental conditions tested. The co-culture of the tissue with explants of human testis was without effect. More than 85% of the activity of both enzymes was found localized in a fraction enriched in epithelial cells. Histological observation of the cultured tissues showed a marked disorganization of the pseudostratified epithelium in the absence of androgen while the inclusion of DHT in the media partially prevented these changes. We conclude that, under the conditions employed in these experiments, the activity of the enzymes studied is not influenced by androgens.