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Effect of Androgen on Proliferation of Estrogen-responsive Transformed Mouse Leydig Cells in Serum-free Culture¹

Third Department of Internal Medicine [B. S., K. N., S. K.] and Second Department of Pathology [Y. N., K. M.], Osaka University Hospital, Fukushima-ku, Osaka 553, Japan

We examined the effects of steroid hormones on the proliferation of transformed mouse Leydig cells (B-1) in serum-free culture condition. Among hormones examined, androgen as well as estrogen enhanced the cell proliferation rate. Hormone binding studies revealed that B-1 cells contained both androgen and estrogen receptors. In addition, androgen-enhanced cell growth was inhibited by antiandrogen, but not by antiestrogen, while estrogen-stimulated cell growth was suppressed by antiestrogen. However, the simultaneous addition of androgen and estrogen did not show an additive effect. Dose-response study on androgen-dependent cell growth revealed that relatively high concentrations (10^-7–10^-6 M) of dihydrotestosterone were required to obtain the maximum response. This was at least partly explained by the finding that B-1 cells could metabolize dihydrotestosterone into the less active steroids. Finally, B-1 cells were found to grow more rapidly in normal than in castrated male mice.

These results clearly indicate that the proliferation of B-1 cells is stimulated by both androgen and estrogen, which utilize the different receptor systems.

¹ Supported in part by grants from the Ministry of Education, Tokyo, a Research Grant for Adult Disease, the Osaka Cancer Research Fund, and the Hirai Cancer Research Fund.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 6/ 7/88. Revised 11/ 2/88. Accepted 11/29/88.