HCG-dependent regulation of gonadotropin receptor sites: negative control in testicular Leydig cells

A single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG 500 IU) to prepubertal male rats increases plasma testosterone level and decreases hCG receptors in the testicular Leydig cells for more than 120 h. Injected hCG, measured in plasma using a specific radioreceptor assay for gonadotropins, is maximal at 2 h and decreases thereafter with an apparent half-life of 16 h. Plasma testosterone exhibits a rapid increase (30-40 ng/ml) within 1h after hCG injection. A delayed paradoxical increase (20-30 ng/ml) is observed between 48 and 120 h after the injection. The number of hCG binding sites in the isolated Leydig cells membranes decreases to less than 10% of the control value within 10 h and remains almost undetectable until 96 h after hCG injection. Reappearance of the binding sites is observed around 120 h. Similar, but less pronounced effects are found after the injection of 10 IU hCG. Since receptor occupancy cannot explain such a phenomenon, it is concluded that hCG is exerting a negative control on its own receptors in the Leydig cells.