| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted on November 17, 2004
Accepted on March 2, 2005
University Department of Growth and Reproduction, GR 5064, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. Department of Andrology and Institute for Hormone and Fertility Research, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Australia
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: katrine.bay{at}rh.dk.
Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) serum levels were measured in 135 andrologically well-characterized normal men and 85 patients with testicular disorders to investigate how the hormone, which is a major secretory product of human Leydig cells, is related to testosterone (T), LH and semen quality. INSL3 was measured by using a newly developed fluorescence immunoassay.
Median (2.5-97.5 percentiles) INSL3 serum levels were as follows: Normal men (n = 135): 0.99 (0.55-1.73) ng/ml; infertile men (n = 23): 1.11 (0.60-2.07) ng/ml; anorchid men (n = 21): non-detectable (ND); patients with 47, XXY, Klinefelter syndrome (n = 21): 0.12 (ND-0.78) ng/ml; men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and T substitution (n = 11): ND; and men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) treatment (n = 5): 0.36 (0.13-0.73) ng/ml. Before testicular biopsy, two infertile men had blood samples drawn directly from vena spermatica. Here the serum INSL3 levels were 15 fold higher than in serum from peripheral blood samples (13.84 and 14.00 ng/ml, respectively). In two unilaterally orchiectomised former testis cancer patients, who underwent hCG stimulation test, INSL3 serum levels were unchanged 72 and 96 h post hCG stimulation. In conclusion we 1) provide a normal range for INSL3 serum levels in adult men and 2) show that the majority, if not all, circulating INSL3 derives from the testes. Furthermore our data strongly indicate that 3) INSL3 secretion is dependent on the differentiating effect of LH on Leydig cells, but independent of the steroidogenic LH-mediated action. Thus even though T and INSL3 are both dependent on LH, these two Leydig cell hormones are regulated differently.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  R. A. L. Bayne, T. Forster, S. T. G. Burgess, M. Craigon, M. J. Walton, D. T. Baird, P. Ghazal, and R. A. Anderson Molecular Profiling of the Human Testis Reveals Stringent Pathway-Specific Regulation of RNA Expression Following Gonadotropin Suppression and Progestogen Treatment J Androl, July 1, 2008; 29(4): 389 - 403. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Anand-Ivell, R. Ivell, D. Driscoll, and J. Manson Insulin-like factor 3 levels in amniotic fluid of human male fetuses Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2008; 23(5): 1180 - 1186. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Bay, H. E. Virtanen, S. Hartung, R. Ivell, K. M. Main, N. E. Skakkebaek, A.-M. Andersson, The Nordic Cryptorchidism Study Group, and J. Toppari Insulin-Like Factor 3 Levels in Cord Blood and Serum from Children: Effects of Age, Postnatal Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis Activation, and Cryptorchidism J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2007; 92(10): 4020 - 4027. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. T. Page, T. F. Kalhorn, W. J. Bremner, B. D. Anawalt, A. M. Matsumoto, and J. K. Amory Intratesticular Androgens and Spermatogenesis During Severe Gonadotropin Suppression Induced by Male Hormonal Contraceptive Treatment J Androl, September 1, 2007; 28(5): 734 - 741. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. K. Amory, S. T. Page, B. D. Anawalt, A. D. Coviello, A. M. Matsumoto, and W. J. Bremner Elevated End-of-Treatment Serum INSL3 Is Associated With Failure to Completely Suppress Spermatogenesis in Men Receiving Male Hormonal Contraception J Androl, July 1, 2007; 28(4): 548 - 554. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Gambineri, L. Patton, R. De Iasio, F. Palladoro, U. Pagotto, and R. Pasquali Insulin-Like Factor 3: A New Circulating Hormone Related to Luteinizing Hormone-Dependent Ovarian Hyperandrogenism in the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2007; 92(6): 2066 - 2073. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S M L C Mendis-Handagama, H B S Ariyaratne, L Mrkonjich, and R Ivell Expression of insulin-like peptide 3 in the postnatal rat Leydig cell lineage: timing and effects of triiodothyronine-treatment Reproduction, February 1, 2007; 133(2): 479 - 485. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. M. Wikstrom, K. Bay, M. Hero, A.-M. Andersson, and L. Dunkel Serum Insulin-Like Factor 3 Levels during Puberty in Healthy Boys and Boys with Klinefelter Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2006; 91(11): 4705 - 4708. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. T. Page, J. K. Amory, B. D. Anawalt, M. S. Irwig, A. T. Brockenbrough, A. M. Matsumoto, and W. J. Bremner Testosterone Gel Combined with Depomedroxyprogesterone Acetate Is an Effective Male Hormonal Contraceptive Regimen and Is Not Enhanced by the Addition of a GnRH Antagonist J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2006; 91(11): 4374 - 4380. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Ferlin, A. Garolla, F. Rigon, L. Rasi Caldogno, A. Lenzi, and C. Foresta Changes in Serum Insulin-Like Factor 3 during Normal Male Puberty J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2006; 91(9): 3426 - 3431. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Ferlin, N.V. Bogatcheva, L. Gianesello, A. Pepe, C. Vinanzi, A.I. Agoulnik, and C. Foresta Insulin-like factor 3 gene mutations in testicular dysgenesis syndrome: clinical and functional characterization Mol. Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2006; 12(6): 401 - 406. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. J.K. Anand-Ivell, V. Relan, M. Balvers, I. Coiffec-Dorval, M. Fritsch, R. A.D. Bathgate, and R. Ivell Expression of the Insulin-Like Peptide 3 (INSL3) Hormone-Receptor (LGR8) System in the Testis Biol Reprod, May 1, 2006; 74(5): 945 - 953. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Bay, K. L. Matthiesson, R. I. McLachlan, and A.-M. Andersson The Effects of Gonadotropin Suppression and Selective Replacement on Insulin-Like Factor 3 Secretion in Normal Adult Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2006; 91(3): 1108 - 1111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. M. Robert, L. J. Martin, and J. J. Tremblay The Orphan Nuclear Receptor NR4A1 Regulates Insulin-Like 3 Gene Transcription in Leydig Cells Biol Reprod, February 1, 2006; 74(2): 322 - 330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH |
| Endocrinology | Endocrine Reviews | J. Clin. End. & Metab. |
| Molecular Endocrinology | Recent Prog. Horm. Res. | All Endocrine Journals |
