Stimulation of the synthesis of steroids and steroid sulphates in human testicular tissue in vitro by hCG and by 8-bromo-cyclic AMP.

Small pieces (10-20 mg) of human testis tissue were incubated for 4 h in the presence or absence of hCG and 8-bromo-cAMP and the concentrations of testosterone, some of its steroidal precursors, and their sulphates were measured by radioimmunoassays. The results showed, we believe for the first time, that the production of steroid sulphates as well as of unconjugated steroids can be stimulated in human testis tissue in vitro and they confirm earlier observations in vivo which suggested that testicular production of steroid sulphates can be stimulated by hCG.