“…Odell and Swerdloff reported that GH facilitated the testicular response to LH and increased the number of LH receptors in premature hypophysectomized rats [6]. Similar effects of GH mediated by insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were reported by Chatelain et al using GH-deficient mice [7]. Recently, we reported that, in isolated Leydig cells, the amount of testoReceived: January 13, 1999 Accepted: June 11, 1999 Correspondence to: Kenji OHYAMA, M.D., Department of Clinical Nursing, Yamanashi Medical University, 1110, Shimokato, Tamaho-cho, Nakakoma-gun, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan sterone production stimulated by hCG was greater in GH-pretreated premature rats than in control rats [8] .…”