Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) treatment can increase testicular LH receptor concentration and testicular responsiveness to LH in hypophy sectoral zed rats. To verify whether GH and growth factors (somatomedin C or IGF1 and IGF2) exert a direct control on Leydig cell function, their effect on cAMP and testosterone (T) production by highly purified immature porcine Leydig cells (L) in primary culture was studied. Porcine GH (pGH) (10−710−9 M) induced a significant increase in cAMP accumulation and T production and significantly enhanced the action of hCG (60 mU/ml) on T release. Human GH (hGH) had a similar effect at 10−7 M but not at 10−9 M indicating some species specificity. This effect was partially blocked by a specific anti-hGH antibody. hGH also increased IGFj production by L while IGF1 also enhanced basal and hCG stimulated T production by L. Finally, receptors to IGF1 and IGF2 have been detected and characterized in L. These data indicate that 1) GH has a stimulatory effect on steroidogenesis of L in culture. 2) Their effect is exerted directly on the Leydig cell and is not mediated by another cell-type, and 3) hCG and GH seem to enhance T production by separate mechanisms and to interact at different receptorial sites. The mechanisms by which this action is exerted and the possibility that growth factors may be involved in this action remain to be determined.
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Ducharme, J., Renier, G., Gaulin, J. et al. STUDIES ON THE INFLUENCE OF GROWTH HORMONE AND GROWTH FACTORS ON TESTICULAR STEROIDOGENESIS. Pediatr Res 20, 1179 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00033
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00033