In vitro perfusion of isolated mouse testes: a model system for investigating testicular steroidogenesis

1. A procedure was developed to perfuse isolated mouse testes in vitro and investigate testosterone secretion. 2. The perfused testis preparation was validated by determining organ edema, glucose uptake, enzymatic and morphological indices of cellular integrity, and testosterone secretion in the absence and presence of LH and other pituitary peptides. 3. The results establish that this procedure can be exploited as a model system to investigate biochemical, physiological, and genetic aspects of steroidogenesis and Leydig cell function in the mouse, and presumably other small rodents as well.