Effect of pineal gland on testosterone release in vitro

We studied the effect of hCG, aminoglutethimide and pineal effluent on the basal testosterone secretion by superfused adult rat interstitial cells. The period used to determine the mean rates of release was 120-240 min. after the start of superfusion i.e. when basal secretory rate was stable. A 2 h administration of hCG (10 mUI/ml) induced a rapid increase in testosterone output while aminoglutethimide (100 microM) decreased it. Basal testosterone release was not modified when interstitial cells were superfused with effluent of a chamber containing 1, 2 or 4 pineal glands. These results suggest that pineal secretory products exert no direct acute action on testosterone biosynthesis by rat interstitial cells.