Gonadotrophic Stimulationin Vitroandin Vivoof Testis from Rabbits Treated with Triparanol

Abstract

Slices of testis from rabbits receiving triparanol showed marked inhibition in the conversion of acetate-1-C¹⁴ to cholesterol-C¹⁴ but little change in the conversion of acetate-1-C¹⁴ to testosterone-C¹⁴. Slices of testis from the same rabbits when incubated in the presence of interstitial cellstimulating hormone (ICSH) showed an increase in the conversion of acetate-1-C¹⁴ to testosterone-C¹¹. Stimulation of this conversion in slices of testis was also observed when ICSH was administered as a single intravenous injection. It is concluded that these findings are most readily explained by limited specificity of the enzymes concerned in the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone. (Endocrinology74: 201, 1964)