[Effect of different doses of water-soluble retinoic acid on the lipid and 3-beta-ol steroid dehydrogenase concentration in the interstitial tissue and supporting cells of the testes of mice].

A study was made of the influence of various doses of water-soluble retinoic acid on the concentration of lipids and 3-beta-ol steroid dehydrogenase (SD) in the interstitial tissue (IT) and supporting cells (SC) of mouse testicles. Three groups of animals were injected with 1% retinoic acid i. p., with the doses injected being 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 ml respectively. After the termination of experiments the animals were sacrificed and the cryostat sections 9 micron thick were stained for lipids and 3-beta-ol in the testicles. It was found that water-soluble retinoic acid is capable of exerting an essential influence on the steroid-producing system of the testicles. At the same time retinoic acid injected in the doses 0.1 and 0.2 ml causes an elevation of the content of lipids and 3-beta-ol SD in the IT and SC of the testes producing Leydig's cells that furnish the internal secretion of the testicle. Injection of 0.3 ml retinoic acid brings about a decrease in the concentration of 3-beta-ol SD in the IT and SC as compared with the dose 0.2 ml. However, in the IT the activity of the enzyme remains higher than in control, whereas in the SC it falls below the control values. The lipid content in the IT and SC changes differently, namely it rises in Leydig's cells and diminishes in Sertoli's cells as compared with the effect of 0.3 ml acid. It may be suggested that injection of large doses of retinoic acid entails alterations primarily in the synthesis of sex steroids, whereas the storage of lipoid substances that serve as substrate remains at a high enough level.