Effect of LH on Steroidogenesis and Cyclic AMP Accumulation in Rat Leydig Cell Preparations and Mouse Tumor Leydig Cells

Abstract

The effect of LH and FSH on mouse tumor Leydig cells as well as Leydig cell preparations obtained from rat testes by digestion with collagenase were investigated. LH but not FSH increased the cyclic AMP content of both cell preparations. The amounts of LH required to stimulate cyclic AMP synthesis maximally were at least an order of magnitude greater than that required for maximal stimulation of steroidogenesis. LH failed to stimulate cyclic AMP synthesis in tubule preparations. A simple dilution procedure was sufficient to terminate the stimulatory effect of LH on cyclic AMP synthesis in Leydig cells, whereas the same procedure failed to affect the steroidogenic response to LH. (Endocrinology93: 127, 1973)