Effects of Osteocalcin on Synthesis of Testosterone and INSL3 during Adult Leydig Cell Differentiation

Figure 4

3βHSD, INSL3, and GPRC6A immunoreactivity in testicular tissue samples of postnatal subjects (Group 1). (a) High 3βHSD expression was observed in Leydig cells of control subjects (Group 1A). (b) 3βHSD expression decreased in Leydig cells of GnRH-antagonist-administered subjects (Group 1B). (c) A slight increase in 3βHSD expression was seen in Leydig cells of GnRH-antagonist-and-osteocalcin-administered subjects (Group 1C). (d) Intensive 3βHSD expression was observed in Leydig cells of only-osteocalcin-administered subjects (Group 1D). (e) High INSL3 expression was seen in Leydig cells of control subjects (Group 1A). (f) INSL3 expression decreased in Leydig cells of GnRH antagonist subjects (Group 1B). (g) A decrease in INSL3 expression seemed to continue in Leydig cells of GnRH-antagonist-and-osteocalcin-administered subjects (Group 1C). (h) High INSL3 expression was noticed in Leydig cells of only-osteocalcin-administered subjects (Group 1D). (i) High INSL3 expression was noted in Leydig cells of control subjects (Group 1A). (j) GPRC6A expression decreased in Leydig cells of GnRH-antagonist-administered subjects (Group 1B). (k) A decrease in GPRC6A expression seemed to continue in Leydig cells of GnRH-antagonist-and-osteocalcin-administered subjects (Group 1C). (l) High GPRC6A expression was observed in Leydig cells of only-osteocalcin-administered subjects (Group 1D). Bar = 50 μm.