5 PRIMARY CULTURE OF TESTICULAR CELIS FROM A LARGE CELL CALCIFYING SERTOLI TUMOR OF A PREPUBERTAL BOY WITH GYNECOMASTIA

Abstract

We have studied in vitro the steroidogenic activity of a bilateral large cell calcifying Sertoli tumor and of its surrounding testicular tissue, in a 9-year old boy with gynecomastia, absence of androgenic clinical signs and bilateral testicular hard nodules. Basal and post LH-RH levels of serum LH and FSH were low. Cells from 2 fractions were separated: tumoral (Tu), (hard and calcified) and extratumoral (ExTu), (soft, composed of prepubertal testicular tissue with scarce micronodules of tumoral cells. A control (C) group of prepubertal testicular cells obtained at necropsy were also cultured. Cells in Tu, Extu and C were stimulated with insulin (I) 5000 ng/ml, hCG 10 ng/ml and hFSH 10 ng/ml.On day 6 of culture, estradiol (E2)and testosterone(T) were determined by RIA and aromatase activity (ARO: E2 under 0.5uM T as substrate)was also estimated. Basal T was(X±SD);C, 0.91±0.20, ExTu 13.6±8.83 and Tu, 0.52±0.26 ng/millón cel.24 hrs and it was stimulated by I and hCG in C(23.5±8.68 and 4.30±0.79 resp)and in ExTu (58.3±26.0 and 29.1±14.2) but not in Tu (0.37±0.28 and 0.11±0.10). E2 was non detectable in every instance. Basal ARO was obsent in C, ExTu and Tu but it was stimulated by I and hFSH in ExTu (120±43.8 and 83.6±22.5 pgE2/10 6 cell 24 hrs) and in Tu (250±14.0 and 479±147). It is concluded the tumor a) Can stimulate steroidogenesis in the surrounding tissue by a paracrine factor, b) it did have ARO and c) it did not have steroidogenic activity by itself. The estrogenic activity in the patient could be explained by the interaction of tumoral and testicular cells combining themselves to secrete estrogens autonomously.

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