Effect of short-term starvation on Leydig cell function in adult rats.

An experiment was carried out to analyze the effect of 3 days of starvation on the Leydig cell function in adult rats. Starvation markedly decreased plasma insulin and testosterone levels (p < .05). The weight of testes was maintained, whereas the testicular interstitial fluid volume decreased (p < .05). The level of testosterone decreased in this fluid (60%), whereas insulin levels showed no significant change. Purified Leydig cells showed normal LH/hCG binding in fasted rats but low insulin binding. The ability of these cells to produce testosterone in vitro was normal under both basal conditions and hCG stimulation in the absence and presence of insulin in the incubation medium. These data suggest that there is no gross impediment in the Leydig cell capacity to produce testosterone that might explain the starvation-associated decrease in plasma testosterone.