Abstract
The activity of 3ß-HSD, estimated by the ratio of testosterone (T) + androstenedione (A) /dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) was studied in primary cultures of human prepubertal testicular cells (post mortem) in basal conditions and after stimulation with 40 U/L hLH, 1.5 U/L rhFSH or 0.12 U/L rhGH. T, A and DHEA were measured by RIA on day 6 of culture in 6 independent testes collected from 6- and 9-day-old newborns (n) and from 1-, 3-, 7- and 24-month-old infants (i). Basal ratio was (X+SD) 10.7 ± 2.28 and 16.2 ± 3.72 for the n and 0.60 ± 0.42, 2.63 ± 0.24, 2.30 ± 0.23 and 0.29 ± 0.23 for the i. Response to stimuli was evaluated by Student's t test as % increment over basal. It was found that testicular cells from n did not increase 3ß-HSD under any condition while those of i increased significantly under hLH (256 ± 5%, X ± SD), rhFSH (425 ± 194%) and rhGH (365 ± 125%). In conclusion, n testicular cells probably express maximal 3ß-HSD activity that cannot be stimulated further. This activity is lost after the n period when it becomes hormone responsive. The effect of FSH is probably mediated by a paracrine factor secreted by Sertoli cells. GH or prolactin can have an effect on the testes.
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Berensztein, E., Saraco, N., Belgorosky, A. et al. STUDY OF 3β-HYDROXYSTEROID DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY (3β-HSD) IN PRIMARY CULTURE OF HUMAN TESTICULAR CELLS DURING THE FIRST MONTHS OF LIFE. Pediatr Res 38, 621 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199510000-00025
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199510000-00025