Endocrine Abstracts

Mammalian Leydig cells produce the majority of the systemic levels of the primary male sex hormone testosterone. Testosterone plays a crucial role during development of male reproductive tissues, onset of puberty, and maintaining health state. The final step of testosterone synthesis is catalyzed by 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (17β-HSD3). Disruption of testosterone synthesis is associated with many diseases. Due to the lack of a human Leydig cell line, two dif...

Impaired 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2)-dependent cortisol inactivation can lead to electrolyte dysbalance, hypertension and cardiometabolic disease. Furthermore, placental 11β-HSD2 essentially protects the fetus from high maternal glucocorticoid levels, and its impaired function has been associated with altered fetal growth and a higher risk for cardio-metabolic diseases in later life. Despite its important role, 11β-HSD2 is not include...

Human adrenal H295R cells are applied according to the validated OECD test guideline 456 to identify potential endocrine disrupting chemicals. Testosterone and estradiol production serves as read-out although these are not steroids typically produced by the adrenals. The current study attempted to optimize conditions for using H295R cells to detect chemicals disturbing the synthesis of key adrenal steroids. Culture supernatants of H295R cells were analysed by LC-MS-based stero...