Gonadotropin stimulation of testosterone production in primary culture of adult rat testis cells

Testis cells from adult hypophysectomized rats were cultured in serum-free medium. Treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin caused an initial increase and a subsequent decline in testosterone production, followed by a recovery in steroidogenesis on day 10 of culture. The recovery in testosterone production was inhibited by the addition of serum in culture media. Luteinizing hormone, dibutyryl adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate or cholera toxin, but not follicle stimulating hormone or prolactin, stimulated testosterone production which was potentiated by a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. This is the first report of a primary culture of adult testis cells with retention of androgen synthetic capacity.