Hormone-induced differentiation of agranular endoplasmic reticulum in the interstitial cells of the mouse testis

Summary The administration of chorionic gonadotrophin to prepuberal mice results in precocious maturation of the testicular interstitial cells. The cytoplasm of the nine-day-old cells is characterized by abundant lipid droplets, large numbers of glycogen particles and mitochondria. By contrast, the membranous organelles are poorly developed.Human chorionic gonadotrophin brings about mobilization of lipid droplets and glycogen particles, and differentiation of large areas of agranular endoplasmic reticulum.The present observations are in agreement with the reports that human chorionic gonadotrophin increases the secretion of testosterone and that the agranular endoplasmic reticulum is the site of storage of steroid and of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of androgens.