Influence of Temperature Upon the Biosynthesis of Testosterone by Rabbit Testisin Vitro

Abstract

Steriod biosynthesis, as measured by incorporation of acetate-l-¹⁴C into testosterone-¹⁴C in vitro, and incorporation in vitro of L-lysine-U-¹⁴C into material precipitated by trichloroacetic acid, were found to be maximal at 38 C in slices of rabbit testis. Both steroid biosynthesis and lysine incorporation were significantly lower at 40 than at 38 C, temperatures which were found to be close to those recorded in the abdomen and testis, respectively, of the rabbit. An important difference in the temperature of maximal incorporation of L-lysine-U-¹⁴C into testicular protein by the rat, as opposed to the rabbit, was also revealed. (Endocrinology76: 396, 1965)