Response of Steroid Hormone - Producing Cells on Hormonal Influences

In the present work we demonstrate our summarized data about the influence of various hormones on the morphology and steroidogenic enzyme activity of the steroid hormone producing cells in the rat adrenal cortex and testis, by in vivo and in vitro conditions. The influence of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), dexamethasone, oxytocyn and progesterone on the adrenal cortex cells and the Leydig cells in testis was carried out. For the purpose we used pregnant Wistar rats and sexually mature male Wistar rats divided into two groups: 1. animals treated with hormones in vivo and 2. control rats injected only with saline solution. Simultaneously, for the in vitro investigation adrenal glands and testes of newborn and mature male Wistar rats were removed under sterile conditions. Fragments of the adrenal cortex and testes were cultivated in diffusion chambers with vitelin membranes for 5 days. In the culture media were placed the corresponding hormones in concentration 1/100 of the dose for adult animals. Cultures with hormone-free medium were used as controls. Adrenal glands and testes of prenatal treated with hormones newborn and mature male Wistar rats and tissue cultures from the in vitro study were removed and examined by routine histological analysis and by enzymehistochemistry. Part of the material was fixed in glutaraldehyde and was embedded in Durcopan for examination with electronic microscope. The changes in the morphology and the activity of enzymes associated with the steroidogenesis in the rat adrenal cortex cells and the Leydig cells and those in the cultures were compared. The results showed different influence of the hormones under study by in vivo and in vitro conditions.