The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1288:111-129. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-77779-1_6.
Leydig cells of the testis have the capacity to synthesize androgen (mainly testosterone) from cholesterol. Adult Leydig cells are the cell type for the synthesis of testosterone, which is critical for spermatogenesis. At least four steroidogenic enzymes take part in testosterone synthesis: cytochrome P450 cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isoform 3. Testosterone metabolic enzyme steroid 5α-reductase 1 and 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase are expressed in some precursor Leydig cells. Androgen is transported by androgen-binding protein to Sertoli cells, where it binds to androgen receptor to regulate spermatogenesis.
睾丸间质细胞具有从胆固醇合成雄激素（主要是睾酮）的能力。成年睾丸间质细胞是合成睾酮的细胞类型，睾酮对精子发生至关重要。至少有四种甾体激素合成酶参与睾酮的合成：细胞色素 P450 胆固醇侧链裂解酶、3β-羟类固醇脱氢酶、细胞色素 P45017α-羟化酶/17,20-裂合酶和 17β-羟类固醇脱氢酶同工酶 3。一些前体睾丸间质细胞中表达睾酮代谢酶 5α-还原酶 1 和 3α-羟类固醇脱氢酶。雄激素通过雄激素结合蛋白转运到支持细胞，与雄激素受体结合，调节精子发生。
