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Following incubation of slices from benign nodular prostatic hyperplasia (BNPH) with [3H] testosterone in vitro, a selective accumulation and retention of radioactivity was found in the prostatic tissue. The uptake and retention of androgen by the pyramidalis muscles was significantly lower. The 105 000 \m=x\ g supernatant fraction of homogenates obtained from BNPH contained androphilic macromolecules excluded from Sephadex G-100 gel, both after incubation of the slices from [3H] testosterone and [3H] 5\g=a\-dihydrotestosterone, and after incubation of prostatic cytosol directly with [3H] 5\g=a\-dihydrotestosterone in vitro. The 600 \m=x\ g crude nuclear fraction of homogenized BNPH contained salt extractable androgen-binding macromolecules. Similar results were also obtained when purified nuclear fractions were examined.

Summary Studies over the last few years have greatly increased our knowledge about target cells for sex hormones and gonadotropins in the testis. A diagram illustrating our present state of knowledge is given in Fig. 1. LH is the principle stimulus of testosterone secretion by the Leydig cells. Direct effects of estrogens and androgens on these cells might modulate the response to LH. Androgens are apparently influencing the differentiation and the contractility of peritubular cells. FSH is the principle stimulus for Sertoli cell secretory function before puberty, although androgens are acting synergistically with FSH. After puberty, androgens alone are capable of maintaining an optimal secretory function of the Sertoli cells. In addition to normal secretory activity of the Sertoli cells, direct stimulation of the germ cells by androgens is needed in order maintain spermatogenesis. Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen in den letzten Jahren haben unser Wissen über die Zellen in den Testes, an denen die Wirkung der Sexualhormone und Gonadotropine ansetzt («target cells») vertieft. Der derzeitige Wissensstand ist in Abb. 1 wiedergegeben. Das hauptsächliche Stimulans für die Leydigzellen, Testosteron zu sezernieren, ist LH. Östrogene und Androgene, die direkt auf die Leydigzellen wirken, greifen in diese Stimulierung durch LH regulierend ein. Androgene beeinflussen offensichtlich die Differenzierung und Kontraktilität der peritubulären Zellen. Vor der Pubertät wird die sekretorische Funktion der Sertolizellen hauptsächlich durch FSH stimuliert, obgleich auch bereits Androgene–synergistisch mit FSH‐auf die Sertolizellen wirken. Für den normalen Ablauf der Spermatogenese ist zusätzlich noch die direkte Wirkung der Androgene auf die Geschlechtszellen erforderlich.