力竭性游泳对大鼠睾丸金属结合蛋白的诱导及其与睾酮和锌的关系

本研究通过观察大鼠力竭性游泳后睾丸金属结合蛋白（ＴＭＢＰ）、睾酮和锌含量的动态变化,探讨ＴＭＢＰ的被诱导性、诱导特点以及与睾酮合成和锌代谢的关系。结果显示：大鼠力竭性游泳后,ＴＭＢＰ呈一过性升高,峰值在游泳后６ｈ处,达安静时的１６倍;游后１２ｈ已降回原有水平。这表明ＴＭＢＰ可被力竭性游泳所诱导,半减期不到６ｈ。ＴＭＢＰ诱导性的发现对认识ＴＭＢＰ的功能具有重要的意义。大鼠睾丸睾酮在力竭性游泳后即刻急剧下降,以后逐渐恢复。此恢复过程伴有ＴＭＢＰ的升高。考虑睾酮合成中对锌的高度依赖性以及ＴＭＢＰ结合锌的功能,ＴＭＢＰ很可能在睾酮的合成中参与锌的摄取、转运和供给过程。大鼠ＴＭＢＰ在力竭性游泳后６ｈ处于高峰时,血清锌却处在低谷,这说明ＴＭＢＰ很可能从血清中摄取锌离子,参与应激后锌的再分配活动。     

力竭性游泳对大鼠睾丸金属结合蛋白的诱导及其与睾酮和锌…

本研究通过观察大鼠力竭性游泳后睾丸金属结合蛋白（ＴＭＢＰ）、睾酮和锌含量的动态变化,探讨ＴＭＢＰ的被诱导性、诱导特点以及与睾酮合成和锌代谢的关系。结果显示：大鼠力竭性游泳后,ＴＭＢＰ呈一过性升高,峰值在游泳后６ｈ处,达安静时４ １６倍;游后１２ｈ已降回原有水平。这表明ＴＭＢＰ可被力竭性游泳所诱导,并减期不至６ｈ。ＴＭＢＰ诱导性的发现对认识ＴＭＢＰ的功能具有重要的意义。大鼠睾丸酮在力竭性游泳后即刻急     

睾酮对雄家猫附性器官金属硫蛋白的诱导

睾丸切除后,家猫前列腺背叶、腹叶及尿道球腺内的金属硫蛋白（ｍｅｔａｌｏｔｈｉｏｎｅｉｎ,ＭＴ）分别下降至正常家猫的２１２％（Ｐ＜００１）、８８４％（Ｐ＞００５）和１８５％（Ｐ＜００１）,而在腹叶影响较小。睾丸切除后注射芝麻油,前列腺背叶及尿道球腺ＭＴ均未得到恢复。但若在睾丸切除后连续３ｄ注射１０μｇ／ｋｇｂｗ睾酮,两者依次恢复至６９３％和５９４％。随睾酮注射剂量增加（５、１０、１５、２０、２５μｇ／ｋｇｂｗ）,血浆睾酮的浓度、前列腺背叶及尿道球腺ＭＴ含量增高。血浆睾酮与前列腺背叶及尿道球腺ＭＴ呈正相关（Ｐ＜００１）。这些结果表明,睾酮诱导前列腺背叶及尿道球腺ＭＴ,其最适剂量为２０μｇ／ｋｇｂｗ。     

低温胁迫下红松幼苗活性氧的产生及保护酶的变化

在不同低温胁迫时间下,对红松（Ｐｉｎｕｓ ｋｏｒａｉｅｎｓｉｓ Ｓｉｅｂ．ｅｔ．Ｚｕｃｃ）幼苗针叶中Ｈ２Ｏ２、Ｏ＾－．２、膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）、组织自动化氧化速率及保护酶超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）、过氧化物酶（ＰＯＤ）、过氧化氢酶（ＣＡＴ）和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（ＡＳＰ）的动态变化过程进行了测定。结果表明,随着低温胁迫时间的延长,Ｏ＾－．２产生速率和Ｈ２Ｏ２含量先上升后下降;ＭＤＡ的含量呈波     

鼠伤寒沙门氏菌外膜蛋白诱发BALB／C小鼠免疫保护的研究

本文采用超声破碎ＴｒｉｔｏｎＸ—１００和超速离心技术提取了鼠伤寒杆菌（Ｓａｌｍｏｎｅｌｌａｔｙｐｈｉｍｕｒｉｕｍ,ＳＴＭ）的外膜蛋白（Ｏｕｔｅｒｍｅｍｂｒａｎｅｐｒｏｔｅｉｎｓ,ＯＭＰｓ）,并发现ＯＭＰｓ中脂多糖ＬＰＳ的含量约为５％,ＯＭＰｓ经ＳＤＳ—ＰＡＧＥ显示１０余条蛋白带。对ＯＭＰｓ诱发ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠产生典型迟发型变态反应ＤＴＨ和ＩＬ—２的水平进行了检测。经腹腔免疫的小鼠用５００ＬＤ５０鼠伤寒杆菌（５０１１５）攻击,１００％可得到保护;用５００ＬＤ５０伤寒杆菌（Ｅ６８６）攻击,３３．３％可得到交叉保护。免疫ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠的Ｔ淋巴细胞,经尾静脉注射给非免疫小鼠,可使后者得到８５．７％的被动免疫保护,上述结果说明ＯＭＰｓ能诱发ＢＡＬＢ／Ｃ小鼠细胞免疫和保护性免疫,并提示成为分子疫苗的可能性。     

干旱胁迫对红松幼苗保护酶活性及脂质过氧化作用的影响

随着土壤的逐渐干旱,红松（Ｐｉｎｕｓ ｋｏｒａｉｅｎｓｉｓ Ｓｉｅｂ．ｅｔ．Ｚｕｃｃ）幼苗叶中膜质过氧化产物丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）含量和膜相对透性均在干旱处理后第３天迅速上升;组织自动氧化速率先是增加,在干旱处理第３天后恢复到处理前水平。保护酶ＳＯＤ、ＰＯＤ、ＣＡＴ的活性明显提高,只有ＡＳＰ的活性下降。用ＰＥＧ模拟干旱胁迫与土壤自然干旱胁迫结果略有不同,－１．０ＭＰａ ＰＥＧ溶液对红松幼苗具有较为明显的     

金属硫蛋白 - 潜伏膜蛋白融合基因的体外转录调控

ＥＢ病毒（ＥＢＶ）是一种与地区性伯基特氏淋巴瘤、鼻咽癌、何杰金氏病等多种人体肿瘤有关的疱疹病毒．已往的研究表明,潜伏膜蛋白（ＬＭＰ）基因是ＥＢＶ最可能的致瘤基因．为制备ＬＭＰ基因转基因小鼠,探讨ＬＭＰ的体内致瘤作用,首先构建了含鼠金属硫蛋白－１（ＭＴ－１）基因调控区和ＬＭＰ基因编码区的ｐＢＲ３２２－ＭＴ－ＬＭＰ质粒,并用电击法将该质粒与ｐＫＪ１－Ｎｅｏ质粒共转染人胃癌细胞株ＭＧＣ,对ＭＴ－ＬＭＰ基因在转染细胞中的整合、转录情况及重金属镉和镍对该融合基因的转录调控进行了研究．结果表明：（１）两质粒共转染效率为８６．７％;（２）ＰＣＲ和Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交分析显示,完整的ＭＴ－ＬＭＰ基因已整合入转染的ＭＧＣ细胞基因组,且在不同的转染细胞克隆中,ＭＴ－ＬＭＰ基因整合的方式及拷贝数不同,拷贝数从１到１９不等;（３）ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ和Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｒｎ杂交分析证实,ＭＴ－ＬＭＰ基因不仅在转染的ＭＧＣ中能够转录,而且在１０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ镉诱导下,ＭＴ－ＬＭＰ基因转录增强,平均增高约１．４倍．结果说明,在ＭＴ－１基因调控区指导下,ＬＭＰ基因不但有ｍＲＮＡ水平的表达,而且其表达受重金属镉的调控,上述结果为制备ＭＴ－ＬＭＰ转基因小鼠     

10日龄肉鸡和蛋鸡血清甲状腺激素和胰岛素水平的比较

本实验应用放射免疫分析法,对孵化后１０日龄的肉鸡和蛋鸡血清中三碘甲腺原氨酸（Ｔ３）和甲状腺素（Ｔ４）及胰岛素（Ｉｎｓｕｌｉｎ）水平进行测定。结果如下：在不同品种间,肉鸡的Ｔ３血清浓度显著高于蛋鸡（Ｐ＜０．０１）。尤以雄性间差异更为显著（Ｐ＜０．００１）;Ｉｎｓｕｌｉｎ水平也出现品种间差异,雄性肉鸡显著高于雄性蛋鸡（Ｐ＜０．０１）。在不同性别间,雌性蛋鸡的Ｔ３和Ｉｎｓｕｌｉｎ水平显著高于雄性蛋鸡（Ｐ＜０．０５）,而肉鸡两性别间无明显差异。Ｔ４水平在两品种与两性别间均无明显差异。另外,Ｔ３和Ｉｎｓｕｌｉｎ水平与蛋鸡及雄性肉鸡的个体增重间均呈现明显相关关系（Ｐ＜０．０５）。提示：血中Ｔ３,Ｉｎｓｕｌｉｎ水平均可影响两品种鸡早期不同的生长速率     

一种新的烙铁头蛇毒肌肉毒素

用分子筛和快速蛋白质液相色谱从烙铁头（ＴＲｒｉｍｅｒｅｓｕｒｕｓ ｍｕｃｒｏｓｑｕａｍａｔｕｓ）蛇毒中分离了一个新的碱性肌肉毒素,命名为ＴＭＰＢ。它的分子量为１６０００,等电点为９．２．用蛋白质序列仪测定了其Ｎ端２４个氨基酸残基,ＴＭＰＢ与其他两个从同种蛇毒中分离到的碱性磷酯酶Ａ２的同源性分别为４１．７％和５４．２％《     

细胞松驰素B促微丝解聚对DNA合成的作用

利用微丝（ｍｉｃｒｏｆｉｌａｍｅｎｔ,ＭＦ）解聚药物细胞松驰素Ｂ（ｃｙｔｏｃｈａｌａｓｉｎＢ,ＣＢ）处理Ｇ_０期小鼠Ｃ_３Ｈ_（１０）Ｔ_（１／２）成纤维细胞,对Ｇ_０至Ｓ期ＤＮＡ合成,胸腺嘧啶核苷激酶（ｔｈｙｍｉｄｉｎｅｋｉｎａｓｅ,ＴＫ）活性、ＴＫ基因表达、钙调素（ｃａｌｍｏｄｕｌｉｎ,ＣａＭ）水平和一些细胞周期早期基因的表达进行了观察,Ｇ_０期细胞经３ｍｇ／ＬＣＢ处理２ｈ,促ＭＦ解聚增强了血清对Ｓ期细胞ＴＫ活性、ＴＫ基因表达和ＤＮＡ合成的刺激作用,并促进细胞提前进入Ｓ期．血清刺激Ｇ_０期细胞进入晚Ｇ_１期和Ｓ期时,ＣａＭ水平明显升高,而ＣＢ预处理则使ＣａＭ含量进一步增加,特别是ＣＢ处理促使Ｓ期ＣａＭ增加向核内转移．ＣＢ处理明显增强血清对ｃ－ｊｕｎ、ｃ－ｆｏｓ和ｃ－ｍｙｃ基因表达的刺激作用,而ＰＫＣ抑制剂Ｈ_７则抑制ＣＢ处理对这些基因转录的刺激作用,说明ＣＢ使Ｇ_０期细胞ＭＦ解聚刺激ｃ－ｊｕｎ、ｃ－ｆｏｓ和ｃ－ｍｙｃ的转录活性与ＰＫＣ的作用有关．结果表明Ｇ_０至Ｓ期早期ＭＦ的重组可促进细胞进入Ｓ期,增强ＤＮＡ合成．     

Human chorionic gonadotropin treatment prevents depressed 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase activities and serum testosterone concentrations in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-treated rats

It is known that administration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) causes decreased serum testosterone concentrations in the rat. Previous studies in this laboratory have shown that in rats TCDD exposure results in decreased 17 alpha-hydroxylase and C17-20 lyase activities. The decreases in these activities paralleled decreases in testicular microsomal heme and cytochrome P450 contents. As reported herein, neither testicular mitochondrial cytochrome P450 content nor the activity of cholesterol side-chain cleavage was altered in rats exposed to TCDD. Since the production of testosterone in the testis is dependent on LH, it is important to determine the early effects of TCDD on serum LH concentrations in the rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given a single, oral dose of TCDD (50 micrograms/kg). Serum LH concentrations were determined by RIA on Days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 following TCDD treatment. Rat serum LH concentrations were decreased to 60% of controls as early as Day 1 and continued to be depressed on Days 2 and 3 at 53% and 59% of control values, respectively. Rat serum LH returned to control values by Day 5 in spite of continued depression of serum testosterone concentrations. The early depression in serum LH levels caused by TCDD may be related to the subsequent androgenic deficiency in the rat. Treatment of rats with hCG was found to be able to prevent the depression of the activities of testicular microsomal 17 alpha-hydroxylase and C17-20 lyase and serum testosterone concentrations caused by TCDD. These data indicate that TCDD decreases serum testosterone by decreasing P450(17 alpha) and C17-20 but not P450sec activities and that hCG treatment prevents the TCDD-induced decrease.     

Effect of testosterone on serum immunoactive inhibin concentrations in intact and hypophysectomized male rats

Intact and hypophysectomized rats were treated with graded doses of testosterone via subcutaneous Silastic implants over a 13-week period. Serum inhibin concentrations fell 50% (P less than 0.001) after 2 weeks of hypophysectomy, remaining suppressed at this level for 13 weeks. The administration of testosterone to hypophysectomized rats (serum testosterone values 2-12 ng/ml; control values 5.5 ng/ml) was without effect on serum inhibin values. In contrast, administration of testosterone to intact animals for 7 weeks resulted in an initial fall (P less than 0.05) in inhibin levels to 50-70% of controls then increasing to reach control levels at higher doses. Serum FSH concentrations were similarly biphasic with increasing dose of testosterone and values for these two hormones were significantly correlated (r = 0.44, P less than 0.01). Segments of seminiferous tubules in culture from rats after various times of hypophysectomy showed a partly suppressed secretion of inhibin. The administration of testosterone did not modify inhibin production although inhibin production was sensitive to FSH. It is concluded that (1) serum inhibin concentrations are partly suppressed after hypophysectomy and testosterone has no effect on serum inhibin values; and (2) the suppression of serum inhibin in intact rats treated with increasing doses of testosterone is attributable to the concomitant fall in serum FSH concentrations.     

Reduced activity of androgen biosynthesis in the testes of rats with analbuminemia

Steroid metabolism in Nagase Analbuminemia Rats (NAR), a mutant strain established from Sprague-Dawley rats, was studied. NAR are characterized by lack of serum albumin and hyperlipidemia. Total testosterone concentration in the serum of NAR was lower than that of normal rats, while the serum free testosterone, LH and FSH concentrations were similar. The half lives of 14C-labeled testosterone administered intravenously in NAR and normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were 4.4 and 4.1 min, respectively. The plasma clearance rates of testosterone in NAR and normal rats were 34.7 and 39.1 ml/min per kg body weight. On Sephadex G-100 chromatography, a mixture of [3H]testosterone and normal rat serum gave two protein peaks eluted in the void volume and the albumin fraction, and the radioactivity was eluted all in the albumin fraction. In contrast, a mixture of [3H]testosterone and NAR serum gave a single protein peak eluted in the void volume and the radioactivity was mainly eluted with this protein peak. The association constants of testosterone to NAR and normal rat sera were 1.25 and 2.24 X 10(4) M-1. Enzyme activities related to the synthesis of testosterone by the testicular microsomal fractions of NAR and normal rats were examined. The activities of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 5-ene-4-ene isomerase, 17 alpha-hydroxylase, C-17-C-20 lyase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were lower in NAR than in normal rats. The activity for synthesis of testosterone from pregnenolone by the testicular microsomal fraction of NAR was about 40% of that of normal rats. These findings indicate that the low serum concentration of testosterone in NAR is mainly attributable to decreased biosynthesis of testosterone in the testes.     

Effect of neonatal androgenization on the testosterone feedback sensitivity in adult rats in two lighting conditions

Neonatally androgenized and intact adult male Wistar rats received daily, during 1 week, either testosterone propionate or sesame oil injections in periodic or constant light. Serum and pituitary gonadotropins and hypothalamic LHRH were measured. In periodic light, neonatal androgenization did not change the serum concentration or pituitary contents of gonadotropins, or the hypothalamic content of LHRH. Testosterone injections decreased serum concentration and pituitary content of gonadotropin of intact rats but failed to decrease the pituitary gonadotropin content of neonatally androgenized rats. In constant light, serum FSH was decreased in neonatally androgenized rats. Testosterone injections decreased both serum LH and FSH concentrations of intact rats but only serum LH of androgenized rats. Pituitary gonadotropin and hypothalamic LHRH contents remained unchanged. We conclude that neonatal androgenization renders the male rat hypothalamo-pituitary axis more resistant to changes of testosterone concentration in adulthood. Constant light did not sensitize the neonatally androgenized rats to testosterone, but on the contrary, testosterone injections were less effective in constant than in periodical light.     

Role of ethanol metabolism in the inhibition of testosterone biosynthesis in rats in vivo: importance of gonadotropin stimulation

The mechanisms by which ethanol (EtOH, 1.5 g/kg) inhibits testicular testosterone synthesis were studied in nonstimulated and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 50 IU/kg)-treated male rats. To dissociate the effects caused by ethanol metabolism, the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor 4-methylpyrazole (4MP, 10 mg/kg) was given to half of the rats 30 min before EtOH. The 4MP had little or no effect in the nonstimulated rats on the EtOH-induced decreases in the concentrations of serum testosterone and of the intratesticular steroids of the testosterone biosynthetic pathway measured, but reduced the EtOH-induced elevation in the intratesticular pregnenolone-to-progesterone ratio. In contrast, 4MP pretreatment markedly reversed the EtOH-induced decrease in serum and intratesticular testosterone and increase in intratesticular pregnenolone concentrations in the hCG-stimulated rats. Simultaneously, the EtOH-induced elevations in the intratesticular pregnenolone/progesterone and androstenedione/testosterone ratios were abolished. In the EtOH-treated rats whose EtOH metabolism was blocked by 4MP pretreatment, the intratesticular testosterone concentrations were negatively correlated with the elevated serum corticosterone levels. It is concluded that: (1) EtOH metabolism is involved in the inhibition of testicular steroidogenesis in vivo. This effect is pronounced during gonadotropin-stimulated conditions. Thus, previously reported "discrepancies" between the in vivo and in vitro results are clarified; (2) corticosterone seems also to be involved in the EtOH-induced inhibition of steroidogenesis. This effect is also pronounced during gonadotropin-stimulated conditions; and (3) without external gonadotropin stimulation other inhibitory mechanisms, such as decreased stimulation by luteinizing hormone, are prevalent.     

糖尿病大鼠性腺及外周血中性激素的改变

目的:研究糖尿病大鼠性腺及外周血中性激素的变化。方法:用放射免疫法检测糖尿病(DM)大鼠,正常(NDM)大鼠和STZ大鼠血清性激素含量,同时称取性腺重量,镜检睾丸、前列腺及附睾的组织形态学改变。结果:DM组睾酮水平显著低于NDM组、STZ组(P<0.01);NDM组与STZ组之间,睾酮水平无显著性差异;DM组促黄体生成素(LH)水平显著高于NDM组、STZ组(P<0.01);NDM组与STZ组之间。LH水平无显著性差异;促卵泡刺激素(FSH)水平在各组之间无显著性差异;HE结果显示,DM组性腺显微结构较NDM组及STZ组明显改变。结论:提示DM严重影响大鼠性腺功能及睾酮的合成分泌,并显著降低大鼠血清睾酮含量。     

Evidence for a major role of inhibin in the feedback control of FSH in the male rat

Adult rats (16-18/group) received a single intratesticular injection of 25, 100 or 400 microliters glycerol solution (7:3 in distilled water, v/v). Half of the rats in each group were given implants of testosterone, a testosterone-filled Silastic capsule (1.5 cm length) to provide serum values of testosterone within the normal range. After 1 week all animals were killed by decapitation. Serum concentrations of gonadotrophins, testosterone and immunoactive inhibin as well as testicular concentrations of testosterone and bioactive inhibin were determined. Testicular histology was studied in Paraplast-embedded tissue stained with PAS and haematoxylin-eosin. Glycerol treatment caused a dose-dependent ablation of spermatogenesis in a distinct area around the site of injection. Serum concentrations of FSH increased proportionally with increasing spermatogenic damage while serum LH and testosterone remained unaltered except with the highest glycerol dose. The rise in serum FSH was significantly correlated with serum (r = -0.70, P less than 0.001) and testicular (r = -0.66, P less than 0.001) concentrations of inhibin. A less pronounced correlation was found between LH and serum inhibin (r = 0.48). No correlation was found between the concentrations of LH and testicular inhibin or between serum concentrations of FSH and serum testosterone in the 25 and 100 microliters groups. Maintenance of low to normal serum testosterone concentrations by means of Silastic implants blocked the elevation of FSH in glycerol-treated animals but failed to affect significantly serum FSH in untreated rats. In all testosterone treated rats testicular inhibin concentrations were markedly reduced in the presence of lowered concentrations (7-14%) of testicular testosterone and unaltered serum FSH concentrations.     

Increase of bile acids synthesis and excretion caused by taurine administration prevents the ovariectomy-induced increase in cholesterol concentrations in the serum low-density lipoprotein fraction of Wistar rats

We examined the effect of dietary taurine on the concentrations of serum cholesterol and apolipoprotein in lipoprotein fractions of Six-month-old ovariectomized, which were used as a model of hypercholesterolemia in postmenopausal woman, or sham operated rats. Taurine significantly reduced the serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations only in the ovariectomized rats. In contrast, taurine significantly lowered the serum apolipoprotein B concentration and serum very low-density lipoprotein-apolipoprotein E concentration only in the sham operated rats. The serum total and high density lipoprotein-apolipoprotein E concentrations were significantly lower in the rats fed taurine than in those fed the control diet regardless of whether they had undergone ovariectomy. The esterified cholesterol level in the liver was significantly lower and the level of hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity was significantly higher in the rats fed taurine than in those fed the control diet. The total bile acids concentration in the feces and intestinal contents of rats fed taurine were significantly higher than those in rats fed the control diet regardless of whether they had undergone ovariectomy. In the sham-rats, taurine accelerated bile acid synthesis and excretion, thereby increasing cholesterol consumption. The increased cholesterol consumption might be compensated by accelerating cholesterol synthesis and/or reducing the synthesis and release of very low-density lipoprotein from the liver. But in the ovariectomized rats, although taurine also accelerated bile acid synthesis and excretion, cholesterol demand might be compensated by excess cholesterol in the blood.     

Chronic administration of corticosterone impairs LH signal transduction and steroidogenesis in rat Leydig cells

The mechanism involved in the inhibitory actions of chronic corticosterone treatment on Leydig cell steroidogenesis was studied in adult Wistar rats. Rats were treated with corticosterone-21-acetate (2 mg/100 g body weight, i.m., twice daily) for 15 days and another set of rats was treated with corticosterone plus ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH) (100 microg/kg body weight, s.c., daily) for 15 days. Chronic treatment with corticosterone increased serum corticosterone but decreased serum LH, testosterone, estradiol and testicular interstitial fluid (TIF) testosterone and estradiol concentrations. Administration of LH with corticosterone partially prevented the decrease in serum and TIF testosterone and estradiol. Leydig cell LH receptor number, basal and LH-stimulated cAMP production were diminished by corticosterone treatment which remained at control level in the corticosterone plus LH treated rats. Activities of steroidogenic enzymes, 3beta- and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD and 17beta-HSD) were significantly decreased in corticosterone treated rats. LH plus corticosterone treatment did not affect 3beta-HSD activity but decreased 17beta-HSD activity, indicating a direct inhibitory effect of excess corticosterone on Leydig cell testosterone synthesis. The indirect effect of corticosterone, thus, assume to be mediated through lower LH which regulates the activity of 3beta-HSD. Basal, LH and cAMP-stimulated testosterone production by Leydig cells of corticosterone and corticosterone plus LH treated rats were decreased compared to control suggesting the deleterious effect of excess corticosterone on LH signal transduction and thus steroidogenesis.