Leydig cell recovery following a second challenge with ethane-1,2-dimethanesulphonate is enhanced by short intervals between cytotoxin administration to rats

in Journal of Endocrinology
Authors:
G. Edwards
Search for other papers by G. Edwards in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
R. Lendon
Search for other papers by R. Lendon in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
I. D. Morris
Search for other papers by I. D. Morris in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access
Rent on DeepDyve

Sign up for journal news

ABSTRACT

Ethane-1,2-dimethanesulphonate (EDS) destroys Leydig cells in the testis of the adult rat and subsequently a new population of Leydig cells develops. It has been reported that EDS is not cytocidal to the new immature Leydig cell population. In the present study, the effect of increasing the time-interval between injections of EDS on cytotoxicity to Leydig cells was examined. At time-intervals of 4–10 weeks between injections the response was similar to that seen after a single injection of EDS to the adult rat. Four days after the second injection, EDS was found to reduce substantially serum testosterone concentrations and in-vitro binding of 125I-labelled human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) to testicular LH receptors which can be correlated with Leydig cell destruction. However, when the interval was only 2 or 3 weeks there was no reduction in serum testosterone, and 125I-labelled hCG binding was not so markedly reduced. During days 1–6 after a second injection of EDS, administered 3 weeks after the first, there were marked reductions in serum testosterone concentrations and in 125I-labelled hCG binding to testis homogenates within 24 h. Recovery from the effects of EDS was rapid, and increased Leydig cell activity was seen from 2 to 6 days after injection. In contrast to the established changes in the adult rat, there was only a 50% reduction in the number of Leydig cells positive for 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 days after the second injection of EDS, and after 6 days the number of cells had increased. These experiments show that the immature Leydig cell of the rat is sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of EDS but that the temporal changes in Leydig cell activity after EDS treatment are different in developing and mature Leydig cell populations. The data are consistent with the view that EDS is preferentially cytotoxic towards steroidogenically active Leydig cells, allowing the resident population of precursor cells to continue to respond to the prevailing homeostatic mechanisms.

Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 123, 197–203

 

  • Collapse
  • Expand