Mazzocchi G, Malendowicz LK, Rebuffat P, Kasprzak A, Nussdorfer GG. Effects of acute and chronic treatments with atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on the Leydig cells of the rat testis.
Endocr Res 1990;
16:323-31. [PMID:
2149839 DOI:
10.1080/07435809009033009]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Acute ANF bolus administration (40 micrograms.kg-1) did not affect secretory activity and morphology of rat Leydig cells. Prolonged (7-day) ANF infusion (20 micrograms.kg-1.h-1), on the contrary, elevated both basal and hCG-stimulated testosterone blood concentration, and caused a notable hypertrophy of rat Leydig cells. Leydig-cell hypertrophy was due to increases in the volume of all the organelles involved in cholesterol and testosterone synthesis (i.e. mitochondria, smooth endoplasmic reticulum and peroxisomes). These findings suggest that ANF, when chronically administered, is able to stimulate the growth and steroidogenic capacity of rat Leydig cells.
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