Effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin on adenylate cyclase activity and testosterone content in rat testicular mitochondria.

The adneylate cyclase activity and the concentration of testosterone in testicular mitochondria from immature rats were measured after administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) or dibutyryl cyclic AMP in vivo or in vitro. Intratesticular injection of HCG produced an increase in adenylate cyclase activity which preceded the rise in the level of testosterone, whereas addition of the trophic hormone in vitro resulted simultaneous increases. Administration of dibutyryl cyclic AMP in vivo enhanced the testosterone content of the mitochondria. However, the cyclic nucleotide added in vitro at concentrations up to 5 mmol/l had no effect. Cycloheximide injected intraperitoneally before the administration of HCG abolished the stimulatory effect of the trophic hormone on the level of testosterone in the mitochondria, whereas chloramphenicol had no effect. These results, although they confirm the role of cyclic AMP as an intermediate in the stimulatory effect of HCG on the concentration of testosterone in rat testis, do not support a role for mitochondrial adenylate cyclase in this action. A protein regulator(s) formed extramitochondrially appears to be involved in the stimulatory effect of gonadotrophins on steroidogenesis.