Abstract
The endogenous neutral steroids in human, boar and rat testis tissue were investigated by gas-liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In addition, the secretion of these steroids by human testis was investigated under basal conditions as well as during human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration. In man and rat testis, testosterone was the main steroid hormone present, whereas in boar, 16-androstenes quantitatively occupied the most important position. In man and boar, a large number of 3β-hydroxy-5-ene steroids, to a large extent sulphate-conjugated, were detected. Some of these compounds were secreted by human testis tissue, and their secretion was increased during HCG administration. When considered together with the findings of other authors, these results stress the importance of the 3β-hydroxy-5-ene pathway of testosterone biosynthesis in testicular tissue. Further, they give support to the view that testicular steroidogenesis might be regulated by modulation of the activity of steroid sulphatase in testis. In the evaluation of the regulation of steroidogenesis in testis, species differences must be given serious consideration, as in rat testes no steroid sulphates could be detected.
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