EFFECT OF SIALOADENECTOMY ON C-17-20 LYASE AND 17-BETA-HYDROXYSTEROIDDEHYDROGENASE IN RAT TESTIS

Androgen biosynthesis was investigated in the testes of rats sialoaden ectomised at 5 weeks of age. Sia-loadenectomy (surgical removal of sub mandibular glands, SDX) had no significant effect on the 3 beta-hydrox ysteroid dehydrogenase activity in the microsome. SDX decreased C-17-2 0 lyase and increased 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17 beta-HS D levels. The activities of C-17-20 lyase and 17 beta-HSD in the micro some were increased and decreased respectively by submandibular gland extract in a dose-dependent manner. It is concluded that the submandib ular gland has a regulatory function(s) on androgen biosynthesis in th e testis of rat.