Human testicular LH receptors: correlations with circulating gonadotrophins and testicular steroid secretion. 1982

P Leinonen, and N Bolton, and R Vihko

Testicular androgen production is regulated by circulating LH, the effect of which is mediated by its testicular membrane receptors. In the present study, testicular [125I]hCG binding in man was investigated and found to be characterized by saturability and high affinity (mean KD in testes of 21 patients with prostatic carcinoma = 1.64 X 10(-10) M), and stimulated testosterone production in dispersed interstitial cells in vitro. The concentrations of the LH receptors correlated with serum FSH concentrations (r = 0.52, P less than 0.05) but not with circulating LH levels. Neither had they any correlation with intratesticular testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone or pregnenolone concentrations, which may be due to the fact that LH receptors are confined to Leydig cells, whereas steroids may be unevenly distributed in the different cells of the testis. In contrast, the concentrations of the LH receptor displayed positive correlations with the concentrations of testosterone (r = 0.81, P less than 0.001), androstenedione (r = 0.54, P less than 0.05), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (r = 0.76, P less than 0.001) and progesterone (r = 0.60, P less than 0.05) in the spermatic vein serum of the patients. Our data suggest that the Leydig cells mainly responsible for steroid secretion into the blood are under gonadotrophic control exerted via their receptors, whereas Leydig cell function is not rapidly reflected in steroid concentrations within the testis itself.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007985 Leydig Cells Steroid-producing cells in the interstitial tissue of the TESTIS. They are under the regulation of PITUITARY HORMONES; LUTEINIZING HORMONE; or interstitial cell-stimulating hormone. TESTOSTERONE is the major androgen (ANDROGENS) produced. Interstitial Cells, Testicular,Leydig Cell,Testicular Interstitial Cell,Testicular Interstitial Cells,Cell, Leydig,Cell, Testicular Interstitial,Cells, Leydig,Cells, Testicular Interstitial,Interstitial Cell, Testicular
D007986 Luteinizing Hormone A major gonadotropin secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). Luteinizing hormone regulates steroid production by the interstitial cells of the TESTIS and the OVARY. The preovulatory LUTEINIZING HORMONE surge in females induces OVULATION, and subsequent LUTEINIZATION of the follicle. LUTEINIZING HORMONE consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is common in the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity. ICSH (Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone),Interstitial Cell-Stimulating Hormone,LH (Luteinizing Hormone),Lutropin,Luteoziman,Luteozyman,Hormone, Interstitial Cell-Stimulating,Hormone, Luteinizing,Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011374 Progesterone The major progestational steroid that is secreted primarily by the CORPUS LUTEUM and the PLACENTA. Progesterone acts on the UTERUS, the MAMMARY GLANDS and the BRAIN. It is required in EMBRYO IMPLANTATION; PREGNANCY maintenance, and the development of mammary tissue for MILK production. Progesterone, converted from PREGNENOLONE, also serves as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of GONADAL STEROID HORMONES and adrenal CORTICOSTEROIDS. Pregnenedione,Progesterone, (13 alpha,17 alpha)-(+-)-Isomer,Progesterone, (17 alpha)-Isomer,Progesterone, (9 beta,10 alpha)-Isomer
D011956 Receptors, Cell Surface Cell surface proteins that bind signalling molecules external to the cell with high affinity and convert this extracellular event into one or more intracellular signals that alter the behavior of the target cell (From Alberts, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2nd ed, pp693-5). Cell surface receptors, unlike enzymes, do not chemically alter their ligands. Cell Surface Receptor,Cell Surface Receptors,Hormone Receptors, Cell Surface,Receptors, Endogenous Substances,Cell Surface Hormone Receptors,Endogenous Substances Receptors,Receptor, Cell Surface,Surface Receptor, Cell
D011974 Receptors, LH Those protein complexes or molecular sites on the surfaces and cytoplasm of gonadal cells that bind luteinizing or chorionic gonadotropic hormones and thereby cause the gonadal cells to synthesize and secrete sex steroids. The hormone-receptor complex is internalized from the plasma membrane and initiates steroid synthesis. Chorionic Gonadotropin Receptors,Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Receptors,ICSH Receptors,LH Receptors,LH-hCG Receptor,LH-hCG Receptors,Luteinizing Hormone Receptors,Lutropin Receptor,Lutropin Receptors,Receptors, Chorionic Gonadotropin,Receptors, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin,Receptors, Interstitial Cell-Stimulating Hormone,Receptors, Luteinizing Hormone,hCG Receptors,Chorionic Gonadotropin Receptor,Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Receptor,LH Receptor,Luteinizing Hormone Receptor,Receptors, ICSH,Receptors, Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone,Receptors, LH-hCG,Receptors, Lutropin,Receptors, hCG,hCG Receptor,Gonadotropin Receptor, Chorionic,Gonadotropin Receptors, Chorionic,Hormone Receptor, Luteinizing,Hormone Receptors, Luteinizing,LH hCG Receptor,LH hCG Receptors,Receptor, Chorionic Gonadotropin,Receptor, LH,Receptor, LH-hCG,Receptor, Luteinizing Hormone,Receptor, Lutropin,Receptor, hCG,Receptors, LH hCG
D005640 Follicle Stimulating Hormone A major gonadotropin secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). Follicle-stimulating hormone stimulates GAMETOGENESIS and the supporting cells such as the ovarian GRANULOSA CELLS, the testicular SERTOLI CELLS, and LEYDIG CELLS. FSH consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is common in the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH, and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity. FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone),Follicle-Stimulating Hormone,Follitropin
D006063 Chorionic Gonadotropin A gonadotropic glycoprotein hormone produced primarily by the PLACENTA. Similar to the pituitary LUTEINIZING HORMONE in structure and function, chorionic gonadotropin is involved in maintaining the CORPUS LUTEUM during pregnancy. CG consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is virtually identical to the alpha subunits of the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH, and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity (CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN, BETA SUBUNIT, HUMAN). Chorionic Gonadotropin, Human,HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin),Biogonadil,Choriogonadotropin,Choriogonin,Chorulon,Gonabion,Human Chorionic Gonadotropin,Pregnyl,Gonadotropin, Chorionic,Gonadotropin, Human Chorionic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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