Testicular Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone During Sexual Development in Humans

Rivarola, Marcelo; Pasqualini, Titania; Chemes, H

doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-030771-8.50140-6

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…However, it has been shown that fibroblastic precursors are steroidogenically active (11) and, therefore, are probably the T secreting cells in our cultures. Furthermore, T has been measured in the prepubertal human testis in vivo (12)(13). The postnatal elevation of plasma T described in infants rises to maximal levels between 20 and 60 days of life.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Primary culture of prepubertal human testicular cells isolated from testes collected at necropsy

Berensztein

Belgorosky²,

Rivarola³

1992

Acta Endocrinologica

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of prepubertal human testicular cells isolated from testes collected at necropsy. Acta Endocrinol 1992;127:66-71. ISSN 0001-5598The aim of the present work was to develop a method for maintaining prepubertal human testicular cells in culture. Seven pairs of testes of boys who died of causes unrelated to endocrine or metabolic diseases were obtained at necropsy. Histology of the testes was normal. Testes were digested with collagenase and dispersed cells were seeded in multi-well dishes in the presence of 5% bovine fetal serum. After the first day, cells were cultured for five days in serum-free medium in the presence or absence of 918 pmol/l insulin. At the end of culture, microscopic examination showed healthy looking cells with characteristics compatible with pre-Sertoli cells; peritubular cells were identified by immunocytochemistry. In the presence of insulin, cells were able to secrete either testosterone or estradiol into the medium, as well as to reveal aromatase activity. In order to study the effect of the time elapsed between death and beginning of cultures, steroidogenic activity was related to this post mortem time. It was found that, in the presence of insulin, cells obtained from testes with less than 24 h of post mortem time secreted testosterone (64\m=+-\7.2 pmol/106 cells\m=.\24h, mean\m=+-\sd) while cells obtained from testes with more than 24 h of post mortem time did not secrete testosterone. With long post mortem times, aromatase activity under insulin increased from non-detectable to 35 pmol/106 cells\m=.\24h. Time course studies showed that cells with capacity to secrete testosterone increase this secretion gradually up to day 10 of culture, while those with detectable aromatase activity showed increments in this activity during the first week of culture. It is concluded that it is possible to maintain cultures of prepubertal human testicular cells obtained at necropsy. In order to maintain testosterone secretion capacity, the time between death and initiation of culture should not exceed 24 h.During the last decade, many reports on studies of the function of the testicular cells maintained in primary culture have been published (1, 2). These studies have contributed to our understanding of the endocrine and paracrine interactions of these cells and to the identifica¬ tion of new secretory products and specific receptors.Most of these studies, however, have been carried out in cells obtained from animals (rat, mouse, hamster, pig) but there is little information on the function of human testicular cells in culture (3, 4), particularly of cells obtained from sexually immature subjects. We have attempted to develop a method of primary culture of human testicular cells obtained from testes of prepuber¬ tal boys, collected at necropsy. We are not aware of any reports using necropsy material for testicular cell cul¬ ture, but Ruokonen et al. (5) found no difference in steroid composition between testes of cadavers and those removed surgically. We have studied the capacity of testicular cells to ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Primary culture of prepubertal human testicular cells isolated from testes collected at necropsy

Berensztein

Belgorosky²,

Rivarola³

1992

Acta Endocrinologica

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“…In fact the case is exactly the opposite. There are reports showing that very early in puberty there is a sudden increase in testicular testosterone concentration that precedes the growth of seminiferous tubules and the rise in peripheral testosterone values and development of secondary sex characteristics ( Rivarola et al ., 1983 ). This is because of the early activation of Leydig cell precursors which are capable of responding to luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulation with testosterone secretion ( Chemes et al ., 198 5, 1992; Cigorraga et al ., 1994 ; Chemes, 1996).…”

Section: Leydig Cell Changes In Infancymentioning

confidence: 99%

Infancy is not a quiescent period of testicular development

Chemes¹

2001

Int J of Andrology

152

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Postnatal evolution of the testis in most laboratory animals is characterized by the close continuity between neonatal activation and pubertal development. In higher primates, infancy, a long period of variable duration, separates birth from the beginning of puberty. This period has been classically considered as a quiescent phase of testicular development, but is actually characterized by intense, yet inapparent activity. Testicular volume increases vigorously shortly after birth and in early infancy due to the growth in length of seminiferous cords. This longitudinal growth results from active proliferation of infantile Sertoli cells which otherwise display a unique array of functional capabilities (oestrogen and anti-müllerian hormone secretion, increase of FSH receptors and maximal response to FSH). Leydig cells also show recrudescence after birth, possibly determined by an active gonadotrophic-testicular axis which results in increased testosterone secretion of uncertain functional role. This postnatal activation slowly subsides during late infancy when periodic phases of activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular axis are paralleled by incomplete spermatogenic spurts. The beginning of puberty is marked by the simultaneous reawakening of Leydig cell function and succeeding phases of germ cell differentiation/degeneration which ultimately lead to final spermatogenic maturation. The marked testicular growth in this stage is due to progressive increase at seminiferous tubule diameter. Sertoli cells, which have reached mitotic arrest, develop and differentiate, establishing the seminiferous tubule barrier, fluid secretion and lumen formation, and acquiring cyclic morphological and metabolic variations characteristic of the mature stage. All of these modifications indicate that, far from being quiescent, the testis in primates experiences numerous changes during infancy, and that the potential for pubertal development and normal adult fertility depends on the successful completion of these changes.

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“…It is well documented and widely accepted that sex hormones influence the growth and development of the male reproductive tract including secondary sex characteristics [6]. Additionally, in animal models, androgens have been shown to play an essential role in the initiation and maintenance of penile erections [7], and a currently recommended use of testosterone therapy is to improve sexual function [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Associations Between Serum Sex Hormones, Erectile Function, and Sex Drive: The Olmsted County Study of Urinary Symptoms and Health Status Among Men

Gades

Jacobson

McGree

et al. 2008

The Journal of Sexual Medicine

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Few studies have examined the association between sex hormone serum levels, erectile function, and sex drive. Using data from the Olmsted County Study of Urinary Symptoms and Health Status among Men we examined the associations between sex hormone serum levels, erectile function, and sex drive. During 1989-1991, Caucasian men ages 40-79 years were randomly selected from Olmsted County, MN, and in the sixth year of follow-up questions on sexual function from the Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory were added and included biennially thereafter with assays for estradiol, testosterone, and bioavailable testosterone levels. Out of 414 men, 294 had a regular sexual partner and androgen measurements at the fourteenth year of follow-up. These cross-sectional results suggest the relationship between sex hormones and sexual function is complex. Total testosterone and erectile function were significantly correlated even after adjustment for age (r = 0.12, p = 0.04). Conversely, total testosterone was not significantly correlated with sex drive (r = 0.08, p = 0.17). Bioavailable testosterone was significantly correlated with both erectile function and sex drive (r = 0.16, p = 0.01 and r = 0.20, p = 0.001, respectively). However, these associations disappeared after age-adjustment (r = 0.04 and r = 0.09). This suggests that the age-related decline in sexual function may be due to age-related declines in levels of bioavailable testosterone rather than total testosterone levels.

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Testicular Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone During Sexual Development in Humans

Cited by 3 publications

References 11 publications

Primary culture of prepubertal human testicular cells isolated from testes collected at necropsy

Primary culture of prepubertal human testicular cells isolated from testes collected at necropsy

Infancy is not a quiescent period of testicular development

The Associations Between Serum Sex Hormones, Erectile Function, and Sex Drive: The Olmsted County Study of Urinary Symptoms and Health Status Among Men

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