[Intragonadal control of testicular function by neurohypophyseal-like peptides]

Immunochemical studies associated with physicochemical procedures led to demonstrate the presence of neurohypophysial-like peptides in the testis of numerous species including human. Characterization of arginine-vasopressin-neurophysin II mRNA and oxytocin-neurophysin I mRNA in rat testicular extracts is in favour of a local production for these peptides. The in vitro and in vivo evidences of a direct regulation of testicular steroidogenesis bg AVP and related peptides--the identification of specific AVP receptors on purified Leydig cells and their alteration in some physiological or pathological situations argue for a paracrine/autocrine role of these neurohypophysial-like-peptides in modulating Leydig cell androgen biosynthesis.