Genetic aspects of the hormonal regulation of some testis enzymes during pubertal development of the rat.

Using a rat model, it was shown that the synthesis of certain testis enzymes during pubertal development is under hormonal control, which acts as regulatory mechanism for gene expression during eukaryotic differentiation. Esterase activity and its electrophoretic banding pattern can be specifically induced by human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). Alcohol dehydrogenase and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase are independently induced by HCG, and are apparently coded for by 2 different genetic cistrons.