Endocrinological control and cellular localization of rat testicular angiotensin-converting enzyme (EC 3. 4. 15. 1)

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · Endocrinology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5020560

Velletri, P A; Aquilano, D R; Bruckwick, E; Tsai-Morris, C H; Dufau, M L; Lovenberg, W

Hypophysectomy of prepubescent (3-week-old) rats prevented the pubertal development of testicular, but not pulmonary, angiotensin-converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1). Additionally, hypophysectomy resulted in a loss of testicular converting enzyme activity in 10-week-old rats that had achieved puberty and had developed enzyme activity. Hormone regimens consisting of FSH/LH (7.5 U/rat X day), hCG (10 U/rat X day), or testosterone (1 mg/rat X day) were employed to ascertain their ability to maintain activity in hypophysectomized rats. All three of the above hormone regimens, if initiated on the first day after hypophysectomy of 10-week-old rats, were capable of maintaining testicular converting enzyme activity. Centrifugal elutriation of dispersed testicular cells indicated that the majority of enzyme activity in mature rats was associated with the germinal cells, a result consistent with the data accumulated from the hormonal studies. Lastly, (/sup 3/H)captopril bound specifically to cellular fractions enriched in germinal cells. The above studies suggest that the pituitary gland is required for the development and maintenance of testicular angiotensin-converting enzyme in the rat by stimulating steroidogenesis in the testes. Furthermore, the sensitivity of converting enzyme activity to androgen coupled with the centrifugal elutriation and (/sup 3/H) captopril binding studies strongly support the notion that testicular converting enzyme is associated with germinal cells.

• OSTI ID: 5020560
• Journal Information: Endocrinology; (United States), Vol. 6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
PEPTIDE HYDROLASES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
TESTES
ANGIOTENSIN
CENTRIFUGATION
FSH
HCG
HYPOPHYSECTOMY
LH
RATS
SPERMATOZOA
TESTOSTERONE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
ANIMALS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
DRUGS
ENZYMES
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
GLOBULINS
GONADOTROPINS
GONADS
HORMONES
HYDROLASES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KETONES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
PROTEINS
RODENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
SURGERY
VASOCONSTRICTORS
VERTEBRATES
550501* - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques
551001 - Physiological Systems- Tracer Techniques