Subcellular Structure and Synthesis of Steroids in the Testis

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly evident that subcellular localization of enzymes, substrates, cofactor systems, transport systems for oxygen, electrons, etc. are factors to be considered in the process of elaboration of steroid hormones. The production of the characteristic array of steroids by specific endocrine tissues, and more important, its control by gonadotropin, cannot at the present time be explained exclusively in terms of enzymes alone. Studies of various gonadal tissues in recent years reveal that the same enzymes or families of enzymes (3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-isomerase, 17-hydroxylase, C17,20-lyase, the 19-hydroxylase-aromatase system, 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) are present in testicular tissues, in follicular tissue, in the human corpus luteum and in ovarian interstitial tissue. Yet each of these gonadal elements elaborates its own unique steroidal product.KeywordsAdenyl CyclaseLeydig CellCorpus LuteumTesticular TissueAdrenal TissueThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.