Activity of delta5,3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in cultured interstitial cells of mouse testes.

Leydig cells isolated from mouse testes were cultured as monolayers for 18 days. Activity of delta5,3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (delta5,3beta-OH-SDH) was demonstrated either in cells in suspension prior to the culture or in cultured cells. The dynamics of the enzyme activity in cultured cells was investigated for 11 days. Approximately 50% of cells in suspension prior to culture showed the activity of delta5,3beta-OH-SDH, while a majority of cells in culture contained active enzyme in the cytoplasm.