Adrenocorticotropic hormone directly stimulates testosterone production by the fetal and neonatal mouse testis

Adult Leydig cell steroidogenesis is dependent on LH but fetal Leydig cells can function independently of gonadotropin stimulation. To identify factors that may be involved in regulation of fetal Leydig cells expressed sequence tag libraries from fetal and adult testes were compared, and fetal-specific genes identified. The ACTH receptor [melanocortin type 2 receptor (Mc2r)] was identified within this fetal-specific group. Subsequent real-time PCR studies confirmed that Mc2r was expressed in the fetal testis at 100-fold higher levels than in the adult testis. Incubation of fetal or neonatal testes with ACTH in vitro stimulated testosterone production more than 10-fold, although ACTH had no effect on testes from animals aged 20 d or older. The steroidogenic response of fetal and neonatal testes to a maximally stimulating dose of human chorionic gonadotropin was similar to the response shown to ACTH. The ED(50) for ACTH, measured in isolated fetal and neonatal testicular cells, was 5 x 10(-10) M and the lowest dose of ACTH eliciting a response was 2 x 10(-11) M. Circulating ACTH levels in fetal mice were around 8 x 10(-11) M. Neither alpha-MSH nor gamma-MSH had any effect on androgen production in vitro at any age. Fetal testosterone levels were normal in mice that lack circulating ACTH (proopiomelanocortin-null) indicating that ACTH is not essential for fetal Leydig cell function. Results show that both LH and ACTH can regulate testicular steroidogenesis during fetal development in the mouse and suggest that fetal Leydig cells, but not adult Leydig cells, are sensitive to ACTH stimulation.