Hormonal regulation of androgen-binding protein in lamb testes.

Androgen-binding protein (ABP) was measured in the testes of 50-day-old lambs. The animals were hypophysectomized and treatment lasting for 5 days was begun 15 days after surgery. In hypophysectomized but otherwise untreated lambs (control group), no 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone binding was detectable in testicular cytosol. One out of four lambs gave a positive response with FSH treatment (25 fmol ABP/mg protein), whereas a restoration of the synthesis of ABP was noted in all LH-treated animals (19 +/- 9 (S.E.M.) fmol ABP/mg, n = 4). No synergism between the two gonadotrophins was observed in lambs treated simultaneously with FSH and LH (19 +/- 4 fmol ABP/mg, n = 5). Testosterone treatment elicited a greater response (37 +/- 9 fmol ABP/mg, n = 5) than FSH or LH alone and the response was not increased by the simultaneous addition of FSH (38 +/- 10 fmol ABP/mg, n = 5). Whatever the treatment, no influence was observed either on the number of supporting cells (undifferentiated Sertoli cells) or the length of the seminiferous tubules (P>0.05); the diameter of tubules was significantly increased in the group treated with FSH and LH. It is postulated that testosterone may have a direct effect on the production of ABP by the supporting cells of the impuberal lamb.