Rommerts F F, de Jong F H, Brinkmann A O, van der Molen H J
J Reprod Fertil. 1982 Jul;65(2):281-8. doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0650281.
Oestradiol secretion by isolated Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, myoid cells, germinal cells and liver cells from rats of different ages was measured by a validated radioimmunoassay technique. All cells, except germinal cells and liver cells, produced oestradiol when incubated in the presence of testosterone. Sertoli cells from 7- and 10-day-old rats and from prenatally irradiated adult rats were 7 times more active than cell preparations from 15--50-day-old rats. The oestradiol production in Sertoli cells prepared from 7--25-day-old rats could be stimulated with FSH. Oestradiol production by isolated Leydig cells from mature animals was 3--4 times greater than that with preparations from immature animals. LH had no effect on oestradiol production, but testosterone production was stimulated more than 5-fold. The oestradiol production by the isolated cells was affected by culture time, the presence of fetal calf serum in the culture medium and incubation temperature. During a culture period of 6 days oestradiol production by immature Sertoli cells increased more than 5-fold and that by Leydig cells decreased to about 10%. Oestradiol levels in testes from 10--50-day-old rats were approximately 20% of those in testes from 7-day-old animals.
