TESTICULAR ANDROGEN BIOSYNTHESIS FOLLOWING CORTICOTROPHIN AND HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPHIN ADMINISTRATION

Abstract

The effects of in vivo administration of corticotropin (ACTH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) on rat testes were studied. HCG, administered for 14 days to young rats, led to testiuclar interstitial cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia, accompanied by stimulation of in vitro testicular androgen production, as manifested by increased 17[alpha]-hydroxylase and 17[beta] -desmolase enzyme activities with no clear-cut effect on 20o-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. The findings in ACTH-treated animals were similar to those in the saline-treated controls. The lack of influence of ACTH on the testicular enzyme involved in steroid biosynthesis is consonant with the concept that ACTH-dependent bilateral testicular tumors occurring in boys with congenital adrenocortical hyperplasia arise from adrenocortical rest cells rather than from testicular interstitial cells.