Hormonal regulation of pig Leydig cells in culture

Using a primary culture of purified immature pig Leydig cells, the hormonal and non hormonal regulation of steroidogenic activity have been studied. The effects of LH/hCG, FSH, LHRH, o-prolactin, estradiol, epidermal growth factor (EGF), human low density lipoprotein (hLDL) and human high density lipoprotein (hHDL) on 125I-hCG binding and basal and hCG-stimulated cAMP and steroids (testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) production were evaluated. These data on the regulation of pig Leydig cell activity are compared with other published results, mainly in the rat model, obtained either in vivo and in vitro.