Fig. 6.

Gonadal steroid production in control and seipin KO mice. A: Serum testosterone in control and seipin KO male mice. Male control (n = 8) and seipin KO mice (n = 8) were treated with hCG (2.5 IU per mouse), and serum was collected before and 4 h after the treatment for measurement of testosterone. B: Progesterone production in control and seipin KO female mice. Female control (n = 8) and seipin KO mice (n = 8) were treated with PMSG/eCG (2.5 IU per mouse), and serum was collected before and 5 h after the treatment for measurement of progesterone. C: Testosterone production in isolated Leydig cells. Leydig cells were isolated from control (n = 8) and seipin KO mice (n = 8) using Percoll gradients as described in the Materials and methods section. Freshly purified Leydig cells were incubated with 2.5 mM Bt₂cAMP in the absence or presence of h-HDL₃ (500 μg cholesterol/ml). After 5 h incubation, testosterone levels in the media were measured. D: Progesterone production in isolated granulosa cells. Age-matched female control (n = 8) and seipin KO mice (n = 8) were injected twice with 5 IU PMSG for 48 h. Granulosa cells were then isolated as described in the Materials and methods section. Freshly purified granulosa cells were incubated with 2.5 mM Bt₂cAMP in the absence or presence of h-HDL₃ (500 μg cholesterol/ml). After 5 h incubation, progesterone levels in the media were measured. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. ∗P < 0.05; ∗∗P < 0.01.