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22S-OH-cholesterol and 25-OH-cholesterol are good aldosterone precursors in isolated rat adrenal glomerulosa cells. In the two concentrations tested (25 and 50 microM) 25-OH-cholesterol stimulated the aldosterone production in a (not-linear) dose-dependent way. An increase in the 22S-OH-cholesterol concentration from 25 microM to 50 microM led to a decrease in the aldosterone production. The exogenous substrate deoxycorticosterone, entering the steroidogenic pathway after the cholesterol side-chain cleavage, is a much better substrate than the sterols mentioned. These results suggest that the cholesterol side-chain cleavage is the rate-limiting step in the aldosterone production from both sterols. We found no effect of the sterols on the potassium-induced aldosterone synthesis. This might be explained by the existence of separate pools of steroid intermediates within the adrenal cell. In vitro a difference in steroid production rates exists between glomerulosa and fasciculata/reticularis cells. This may arise from differences in availability of endogenous steroid precursors like cholesterol. However similar differences can be observed if exogenous substrates like 25-OH-cholesterol or 22S-OH-cholesterol are used. These results therefore suggest that enzymatic activities in the steroidogenic pathway are more important than the cholesterol concentration in regulating steroid production in isolated rat adrenal glomerulosa and fasciculata/reticularis cells.

The effect of chronic pulsatile low-dose GnRH treatment on the juvenile testis and associated structures was evaluated in relation to hormonal parameters in the peripheral blood in the pig. Starting at 8 weeks of age, male pigs (crossbreds of Dutch Landrace and Yorkshire breeds) were injected 6 times daily im with 0, 75 or 250 ng GnRH/kg body weight during 4 weeks. Immediately after the treatment period, a GnRH stimulation test with 750 ng GnRH/kg iv was carried out. Samples for plasma LH, FSH, testosterone and 5 alpha DHT measurement were obtained weekly (basal level) and after GnRH stimulation. The pigs were castrated at 12 weeks of age and the weights and lengths of the testis, epididymis and cremaster muscle were recorded. Intratesticular testosterone and 5 alpha DHT concentrations were determined, and the testis and epididymis were evaluated for histological changes. Basal plasma hormone concentrations, intratesticular androgen concentrations and the response of the pituitary gland to stimulation had not been affected by GnRH treatment. Pigs receiving the higher treatment dose of GnRH showed less increase in testosterone levels in response to the stimulation dose at 12 weeks of age than the other pigs. Morphologically, no changes were observed in the epididymis and cremaster muscle after GnRH treatment and no signs of reactivation of structures that can provoke testicular descent could be seen. The development of the seminiferous epithelium was more advanced in the GnRH-treated groups, apparently in a dose-dependent manner.