In the male androgens are essential for the development and maintenance of specific reproductive tissues such as testis, prostate, epididymis, seminal vesicle and penis, as well as for other characteristic male properties such as increased muscle strength, hair growth, etc. (Mooradian et al. 1987). In order to maintain the androgen concentration at appropriate levels, the production rates of androgens must be balanced against the rates of metabolic clearance and excretion. The action of androgens in target cells depends on the amount of steroid which can penetrate into the cells, the extent of metabolic conversion within the cells, the interactions with the receptor proteins and finally, upon the action of the androgen receptors at the genomic level.

Testosterone: An overview of biosynthesis, transport, metabolism and nongenomic actions

We examined the effects of androstenedione supplementation on the hormonal profile of 10 males and its interaction with resistance exercise. Baseline testosterone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, a...

The acute effects of androstenedione supplementation in healthy young males

Influence of coculture with Sertoli cells on steroidogenesis in immature rat Leydig cells.

https://www.usask.ca/toxicology/jgiesy/pdf/publications/JA-849.pdf

Dose-dependent compensation responses of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-liver axis of zebrafish exposed to the fungicide prochloraz.

Androgens in the male are essential for the development and maintenance of specific reproductive tissues such as testis, prostate, epididymis, seminal vesicles and penis, as well as other characteristic male properties such as increased muscle strength, hair growth, etc. (Mooradian et al. 1987). In order to maintain the androgen concentration at appropriate levels, the production rates of androgens must be balanced against the metabolic clearance and excretion. The action of androgens in target cells depends on the amount of steroid which can penetrate into the cells, the extent of metabolic conversions within the cells, the interactions with the receptor proteins and finally, upon the action of the androgen receptors at the genomic level.

Testosterone: an overview of biosynthesis, transport, metabolism and action

Measurement of steroidogenesis in rodent Leydig cells: a comparison between pregnenolone and testosterone production

The modulation of the luteinizing hormone (LH) induction of cholesterol side chain cleavage (CSCC) enzyme in immature rat Leydig cells was studied using rat Sertoli cell-conditioned medium (SCCM), which stimulates short-term endogenous steroid production. Luteinizing hormone increased the CSCC enzyme activity 10-fold in cells cultured for 7 days in the absence of hormones. This enzyme induction was abolished almost completely in the presence of SCCM. The inhibition was dose dependent (half-maximal effect at 5 mg protein/l) and paralleled by a decrease in the amount of cytochrome P-450scc (P-450scc) enzyme. There were no indications for loss of cell viability. The inhibitory action of SCCM could be localized at the level of adenylate cyclase activation and at steps beyond cyclic adenosine monophosphate production. The inhibition was not specific for Sertoli cell products because conditioned media from different cell lines and media from isolated rat hepatocytes displayed similar effects. Trypsin treatment of SCCM destroyed the activity whereas the bioactivity could resist heating for 5 min at 100 degrees C. Generally occurring (growth) factors, such as epidermal growth factor or tumor necrosis factor alpha, may have contributed to the observed inhibitory effects of SCCM. These inhibitory effects of Sertoli cell products in vitro are in contrast to stimulatory effects of Sertoli cells on Leydig cell steroidogenesis in vivo after FSH administration.

Inhibition of the luteinizing hormone-dependent induction of cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme in immature rat Leydig cells by Sertoli cell products.

L. Van Haren

Papers

Measurement of steroidogenesis in rodent Leydig cells: a comparison between pregnenolone and testosterone production

Inhibition of the luteinizing hormone-dependent induction of cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme in immature rat Leydig cells by Sertoli cell products.