Abstract
The direct effect of treatment with a potent LHRH agonist on testicular steroidogenesis was studied by incubation of radioactive steroids with a testicular homogenate or with a suspension of interstitial cells obtained following 7 days of treatment of adult hypophysectomized male rats. The animals received [D-ser(tBu)6,des-Gly-NH2 10]LHRH ethylamide (25 μg) administered 3 times a day, hCG (5 or 25 IU) once daily or a combination of both drugs. The metabolism of tritiated progesterone into Δ4-metabolites by a suspension of interstitial cells was markedly reduced by treatment with the LHRH agonist (LHRH-A) alone or following combined treatment with hCG and LHRH-A. No formation of 5α-reduced steroids was detected in the medium following incubation with testicular homogenate or interstitial cells. Similar findings were obtained by measurement of testicular steroid content. The present data demonstrate that the direct effect of the LHRH agonist is limited to the Leydig cells on 17-hydroxylase activity. This inhibitory effect is reflected by an accumulation of testicular pregnenolone and progesterone content and a marked inhibition of progesterone metabolism into Δ4-androgens. However, no stimulation of 5α-reductase, an enzyme localized in seminiferous tubules, could be detected. Such data show clear differences between the direct and the pituitary-mediated effects of treatment with LHRH agonists on testicular steroidogenesis. While the LHRH agonist administered at high doses in the rat can directly inhibit 17-hydroxylase activity, the stimulatory effect on 5α-reductase activity is regulated by another mechanism.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 33-40 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1985 |
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Keywords
- direct effect
- hypophysectomized
- LHRH-A
- steroidogenesis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Cite this
Specificity of the direct effect of an LHRH agonist on testicular 17-hydroxylase but not on 5α-reductase activity in hypophysectomized adult rats. / Tremblay, Yves; Bélanger, Alain; Marchetti, Bianca.
In: Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Vol. 40, No. 1, 1985, p. 33-40.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Specificity of the direct effect of an LHRH agonist on testicular 17-hydroxylase but not on 5α-reductase activity in hypophysectomized adult rats
AU - Tremblay, Yves
AU - Bélanger, Alain
AU - Marchetti, Bianca
PY - 1985
Y1 - 1985
N2 - The direct effect of treatment with a potent LHRH agonist on testicular steroidogenesis was studied by incubation of radioactive steroids with a testicular homogenate or with a suspension of interstitial cells obtained following 7 days of treatment of adult hypophysectomized male rats. The animals received [D-ser(tBu)6,des-Gly-NH2 10]LHRH ethylamide (25 μg) administered 3 times a day, hCG (5 or 25 IU) once daily or a combination of both drugs. The metabolism of tritiated progesterone into Δ4-metabolites by a suspension of interstitial cells was markedly reduced by treatment with the LHRH agonist (LHRH-A) alone or following combined treatment with hCG and LHRH-A. No formation of 5α-reduced steroids was detected in the medium following incubation with testicular homogenate or interstitial cells. Similar findings were obtained by measurement of testicular steroid content. The present data demonstrate that the direct effect of the LHRH agonist is limited to the Leydig cells on 17-hydroxylase activity. This inhibitory effect is reflected by an accumulation of testicular pregnenolone and progesterone content and a marked inhibition of progesterone metabolism into Δ4-androgens. However, no stimulation of 5α-reductase, an enzyme localized in seminiferous tubules, could be detected. Such data show clear differences between the direct and the pituitary-mediated effects of treatment with LHRH agonists on testicular steroidogenesis. While the LHRH agonist administered at high doses in the rat can directly inhibit 17-hydroxylase activity, the stimulatory effect on 5α-reductase activity is regulated by another mechanism.
AB - The direct effect of treatment with a potent LHRH agonist on testicular steroidogenesis was studied by incubation of radioactive steroids with a testicular homogenate or with a suspension of interstitial cells obtained following 7 days of treatment of adult hypophysectomized male rats. The animals received [D-ser(tBu)6,des-Gly-NH2 10]LHRH ethylamide (25 μg) administered 3 times a day, hCG (5 or 25 IU) once daily or a combination of both drugs. The metabolism of tritiated progesterone into Δ4-metabolites by a suspension of interstitial cells was markedly reduced by treatment with the LHRH agonist (LHRH-A) alone or following combined treatment with hCG and LHRH-A. No formation of 5α-reduced steroids was detected in the medium following incubation with testicular homogenate or interstitial cells. Similar findings were obtained by measurement of testicular steroid content. The present data demonstrate that the direct effect of the LHRH agonist is limited to the Leydig cells on 17-hydroxylase activity. This inhibitory effect is reflected by an accumulation of testicular pregnenolone and progesterone content and a marked inhibition of progesterone metabolism into Δ4-androgens. However, no stimulation of 5α-reductase, an enzyme localized in seminiferous tubules, could be detected. Such data show clear differences between the direct and the pituitary-mediated effects of treatment with LHRH agonists on testicular steroidogenesis. While the LHRH agonist administered at high doses in the rat can directly inhibit 17-hydroxylase activity, the stimulatory effect on 5α-reductase activity is regulated by another mechanism.
KW - direct effect
KW - hypophysectomized
KW - LHRH-A
KW - steroidogenesis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0021956214&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0021956214&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0303-7207(85)90155-8
DO - 10.1016/0303-7207(85)90155-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 3922824
AN - SCOPUS:0021956214
VL - 40
SP - 33
EP - 40
JO - Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
JF - Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
SN - 0303-7207
IS - 1
ER -