ATTEMPTS TO DEMONSTRATE 3 - AND 17 -HYDROXY-STEROID DEHYDROGENASES HISTOCHEMICALLY IN THE TESTES OF THE STALLION, BOAR, RAM AND BULL

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Abstract
An attempt has been made to study the distribution of [DELTA]5-3[beta]-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17[beta]-hydroxysteroid dehydro-genase and diaphorase activities in the testes of mature stallions, boars, rams and bulls and immature piglets and calves. Using the standard histochemical medium, [DELTA]5-3[beta]-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity was found only in the Leydig cells of the horse, and in a few interstitial cells of some rams. A false positive reaction ("nothing dehydrogenase") was obtained in porcine testes, and no modification of the method could eliminate this. Lowering of the concentration of co-enzyme in the medium was necessary to bring out selective staining of the interstitial tissue in bovine testes. 17[beta]-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity could not be demonstrated in the testes of any of the species examined when testosterone was used as a substrate. Enzymes that oxidize the reduced co-enzymes, NADH2 and NADPH2 (diaphorases), were demonstrable in testes of all four species in both the seminiferous tubules and interstitial cells.