Insulin like factor 3 (INSL3) and testosterone are the two major secretory products of the testis, both produced by the interstitial Leydig cells. The Leydig cells of the testis have two distinct generations, one developing before birth (fetal Leydig cells, FLC) and an adult type (adult Leydig cells, ALC) that become differentiated and functional at puberty. Although these two types of Leydig cells represent distinct populations, rodent studies show that both types produce testosterone and INSL3. Both are presumed to have evolved from a common stem cell pool. We measured INSL3 levels in human amniotic fluids collected at various times of gestation and show for the first time that the human male fetus indeed generates INSL3 at a time appropriate for the first transabdominal phase of testicular descent, which appears to be the primary physiological role for the fetal hormone. INSL3 appears to be independent of androgen production. The adult type Leydig cells (in adult men) secrete INSL3 that can be measured in the peripheral circulation at levels ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 ng/mL. We studied a large randomly recruited cohort of 1183 men from South Australia, comparing serum INSL3 concentrations with age, and a variety of endocrine, cognitive and morphological parameters. INSL3 concentration was observed to decline significantly with age. This however, had no correlation with testosterone or components of the HPG axis. INSL3 is an independent measure of Leydig cell function (quality and number), which appears to be independent of acute control via the HPG axis. Its decline with age reflects a decline in the properties of the Leydig cell population only, and emphasises a gonadal component in the age-related decrease in androgen production.
Research supported by ARC Discovery grant DP0773315.
Comments on Li et al. Effects of in Utero Exposure to Dicyclohexyl Phthalate on Rat Fetal Leydig Cells. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2016, 13, 246
