Summary
The steps of triparanol (MER-29) action on the ultrastructural organization of the mature Leydig cell and possible antagonistic effects of HCG were investigated.
The administration of this compound produces marked ultrastructural effects in the adult Leydig cell. The main action is on membranous structures such as the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, which hypertrophies markedly. It becomes arranged in numerous concentric layers (whorls). These are of different size and shape; a whole series of gradual changes from whorl to dense body with a crystalline pattern can be followed. Other cellular structures which undergo changes after MER-29 are the Golgi complex, the mitochondria and the plasma membrane. Dense bodies appear in large numbers. When HCG is given together with MER-29, it counteracts partially the effect of the latter. When injected in two doses, after four doses of MER-29, the effect of HCG is even more conspicuous.
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This work was supported by Grant M 63-121, of the Population Council, U. S.A.
Fellow, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas, Argentina. The author gratefully acknowledges Dr. F. L. Sacerdote's revision of the English manuscript.
The HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) was kindly supplied by Laboratorios ELEA, Argentina. The triparanol (Mer-29, 1-[p(β-diethylaminoethoxy)phenyl]-1-(p-tolyl)-2-(p-chlorophenyl ethanol) was provided by A. Wasserman S.p.A. of Società Italiana per Specialità Farmaco-Terapeutiche, Milan, Italy.
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Russo, J. Combined effect of triparanol and human chorionic gonadotrophin on the ultrastructure of the adult Leydig cell. Z. Zellforsch. 113, 249–258 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00339419
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00339419