TY - JOUR
T1 - In vivo chorionic gonadotropin administration reverses the testosterone secretory defect of Leydig cells from old rats
AU - Tsitouras, P. D.
AU - Kowatch, M. A.
AU - Blackman, M. R.
AU - Harman, S. M.
PY - 1984
Y1 - 1984
N2 - Old male rats have been decreased serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicule-stimulating hormone (FSH), Leydig cell testosterone secretory responsiveness to chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and gonadotropin binding capacity. Although prolonged in vivo hCG administration restores serum testosterone, in vitro hCG exposure of Leydig cells does not reverse their age-related hyporesponsiveness. To explore this discrepancy, we studied Leydig cell function before and after hCG administration in vivo (treatment). Before treatment, old rats had lower serum testosterone, in vitro testosterone and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production, both basally and in response to hCG, and reduced hCG binding capacity. After treatment, old and young rats did not differ in any of these parameters. hCG binding and cAMP responses were reduced in both old and young rats. Thus, prolonged in vivo exposure to hCG appeared to reverse both the in vivo and in vitro age-related Leydig cell secretory defect, despite gonadotropin receptor down-regulation. This suggests that the 'aging' defect(s) is caused by chronic gonadotropin deprivation.
AB - Old male rats have been decreased serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicule-stimulating hormone (FSH), Leydig cell testosterone secretory responsiveness to chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and gonadotropin binding capacity. Although prolonged in vivo hCG administration restores serum testosterone, in vitro hCG exposure of Leydig cells does not reverse their age-related hyporesponsiveness. To explore this discrepancy, we studied Leydig cell function before and after hCG administration in vivo (treatment). Before treatment, old rats had lower serum testosterone, in vitro testosterone and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production, both basally and in response to hCG, and reduced hCG binding capacity. After treatment, old and young rats did not differ in any of these parameters. hCG binding and cAMP responses were reduced in both old and young rats. Thus, prolonged in vivo exposure to hCG appeared to reverse both the in vivo and in vitro age-related Leydig cell secretory defect, despite gonadotropin receptor down-regulation. This suggests that the 'aging' defect(s) is caused by chronic gonadotropin deprivation.
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U2 - 10.1093/geronj/39.3.257
DO - 10.1093/geronj/39.3.257
M3 - Article
C2 - 6325528
AN - SCOPUS:0021319192
SN - 0022-1422
VL - 39
SP - 257
EP - 263
JO - Journals of Gerontology
JF - Journals of Gerontology
IS - 3
ER -