ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Leydig cells
;
Testis
;
3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
;
Testosterone
;
Oxytocin
;
Rat (Wistar)
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Testicular interstitial cells, from rats aged 35 days, were dispersed with collagenase and separated through Percoll into 5 fractions (I–V); fraction I being the least dense. Measurement of basal testosterone production, histo-enzymological staining for 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and electron microscopy indicated that the majority of Ley dig cells were found in fraction IV (corresponding to a density of 1.076–1.097 g/ml). In addition, cells from this fraction responded to hCG treatment in a dose-dependent manner on day 0 and remained responsive after being cultured for 1 day. Immunostaining for oxytocin indicated that this fraction also contained the majority of the oxytocin-immunoreactive cells. On day 1 of culture, 56% of the cell population from fraction IV were positively stained for the steroidogenic enzyme and 75% immunoreactive for oxytocin. This overlap indicates that the Leydig cells were also the oxytocin immunoreactive cells.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00222304
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