scholarly journals The mechanism of action of lutropin on regulator protein(s) involved in Leydig-cell steroidogenesis

1979 ◽  
Vol 184 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian A. Cooke ◽  
L. Monica Lindh ◽  
Henk J. Van Der Molen
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Leydig Cell ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Protein Synthesis Inhibitor ◽  
Dibutyryl Cyclic Amp ◽  
Testosterone Production ◽  
Short Half Life ◽  
Regulator Protein

The dependence on lutropin of the synthesis of a proposed short-half-life protein regulator involved in Leydig-cell steroidogenesis was investigated. This was carried out by determining the effect of the protein-synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, added before and during incubations with lutropin (and/or dibutyryl cyclic AMP), on the rate of testosterone production in suspensions of purified Leydig cells from adult rat testes. The Leydig cells were preincubated in Eagle's medium for 2.5h followed by 30min incubation with and without cycloheximide. The inhibitor was removed by washing the cells and then lutropin was added and testosterone concentrations were determined after incubation of the cells at 32°C. No significant effect of cycloheximide pretreatment on lutropin-stimulated steroidogenesis was found during 60min incubation. This was in contrast with the complete inhibiting effect of cycloheximide when it was added with the lutropin. The pretreatment experiments with cycloheximide were repeated in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and elipten phosphate (to inhibit cholesterol side-chain cleavage) followed by incubation with lutropin. After 5, 10, 20 and 60min of incubation, testosterone concentrations were 61±3, 46±3, 27±4 and 18±4% lower than in the cells pretreated without cycloheximide respectively (means±s.e.m., n=4–6). In the cells not pretreated with cycloheximide and in the absence of lutropin, testosterone production increased from 1.36±0.5 to 36.5±1.0ng/106 cells during 20min of incubation, after which no further increase occurred. Pretreatment of the cells with cycloheximide decreased these testosterone concentrations by 65, 46, 42 and 36% in the 5, 10, 20 and 60min incubations respectively (mean values, n=2–4). It is apparent from these results that inhibition of steroidogenesis only occurs if protein synthesis is inhibited in the presence of lutropin or cyclic AMP. A new hypothesis is put forward to explain these findings: it is proposed that lutropin affects the stability of a precursor of a regulator protein by converting it from a stable (inactive) to an unstable (active) form with a short half-life.

scholarly journals Regulation of cytochrome P450 aromatase gene expression in adult rat Leydig cells: comparison with estradiol production

2001 ◽  
Vol 168 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Genissel ◽  
J Levallet ◽  
S Carreau
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cytochrome P450 ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Leydig Cell ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Aromatase Activity ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Cytochrome P450 Aromatase

Regulation of aromatase gene expression in purified rat Leydig cells has not yet been investigated. Therefore, using a highly specific quantitative RT-PCR method, we have measured the amount of cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) mRNA and aromatase activity in mature rat Leydig cells submitted to various treatments during 24 h. Estradiol production was enhanced in a dose-related manner in the presence of testosterone, the maximum (28% increase) being obtained with 200 ng/ml. Related to the P450arom mRNA levels, a decrease was observed in the presence of low concentrations (50 and 100 ng/ml) of testosterone, then a 20% increase of the amount of transcripts was recorded for the higher concentrations (200-500 ng/ml). The same result was obtained in the presence of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (an androgen resistant to aromatase activity). The addition of ovine LH (oLH; 0.1-50 ng/ml) to the Leydig cell culture medium induced a dose-related augmentation of estradiol output up to 10 ng/ml oLH, although a decrease was observed with 50 ng/ml when compared with maximal values. mRNA levels slightly decreased in the presence of low concentrations (0.1-1 ng/ml) of oLH, an effect that was abolished by the addition of testosterone; mRNA levels were increased by oLH (5-10 ng/ml) 35 and 75% respectively in the absence and presence of testosterone (when compared with Leydig cells incubated without treatment). With 50 ng/ml oLH, a large augmentation (twofold) of the P450arom mRNA level either without or with testosterone was observed. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (1 mM) mimicked the effect of oLH. The half-life of the P450arom mRNAs was twofold increased in the presence of testosterone and oLH when compared with the half-life in the absence of treatment (5.8+/-0.6 h). Taken together, our data have demonstrated that, in freshly isolated Leydig cells from mature rat testes, the regulation of aromatase expression and enzymatic activity is under LH (through cyclic AMP) and steroid control; moreover seminiferous tubule-secreted factor(s) are also involved. Therefore, rat Leydig cell aromatase is controlled at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional steps by endocrine and/or locally produced modulators.

scholarly journals Specific protein synthesis in isolated rat testis leydig cells. Influence of luteinizing hormone and cycloheximide

1977 ◽  
Vol 162 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
F H A Janszen ◽  
B A Cooke ◽  
H J van der Molen
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Leydig Cell ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Protein Band ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Rat Testis

The effect of luteinizing hormone (luteotropin) and cycloheximide on specific protein synthesis in rat testis Leydig cells has been investigated. Proteins were labelled with either I114C]leucine, [3H]leucine or [35S]methionine during incubation with Leydig-cell suspensions in vitro. Total protein was extracted from the cells and separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. No detectable increase in the synthesis of specific proteins could be observed after incubation of Leydig cells with luteinizing hormone for up to 1 h. However, after a 2h incubation period, an increase in [35S]methionine incorporation was observed in a protein with an apparent mol.wt. of 21000 (referred to as ‘protein 21’). When, after labelling of this protein with [35S]-methionine, Leydig cells were incubated for another 30min with cycloheximide, no decrease in radioactivity of this protein band was observed, indicating that it does not have a short half-life. However, another protein band was detected, which after incubation with cycloheximide disappeared rapidly, the reaction following first-order kinetics, with a half-life of about 11 min. This protein, with an apparent mol.wt. of 33000 (referred to as “protein 33”), was found to be located in the particulate fraction of the Leydig cell, and could not be demonstrated in other rat testis-cell types or blood cells. No effect of luteinizing hormone on molecular weight, subcellular localization or half-life of protein 33 was observed. A possible role for protein 33 and protein 21 in the mechanism of action of luteinizing hormone on testosterone production of Leydig cells is discussed.

scholarly journals Regulation of the synthesis of lutropin-induced protein in rat testis Leydig cells

1978 ◽  
Vol 170 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix H. A. Janszen ◽  
Brian A. Cooke ◽  
Maria J. A. Van Driel ◽  
Henk J. Van Der Molen
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Actinomycin D ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor ◽  
Dibutyryl Cyclic Amp ◽  
Rat Testis ◽  
Stimulation Of

The mechanism of action of lutropin on the stimulation of the synthesis of a specific lutropin-induced protein in rat testis Leydig cells was investigated. Lutropin-induced protein has a mol.wt. of approx. 21000 and is detected by labelling the Leydig-cell proteins with [35S]methionine, followed by separation by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and radioautography of the dried gel. The incorporation of35S into lutropin-induced protein was used as an estimate for the synthesis of the protein. Incubation of Leydig cells with dibutyryl cyclic AMP or cholera toxin also resulted in the stimulation of synthesis of the protein. Synthesis of lutropin-induced protein, when maximally stimulated with 100ng of lutropin/ml, could not be stimulated further by addition of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Addition of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, further increased synthesis of the protein in the presence of a submaximal dose of lutropin (10ng/ml) but not in the absence of lutropin or with maximal amounts of lutropin (100 and 1000ng/ml). Actinomycin D prevented the effect of lutropin on the stimulation of lutropin-induced protein synthesis when added immediately or 1h after the start of the incubation, but not when added after 5–6h. This is interpreted as reflecting that, after induction of mRNA coding for lutropin-induced protein, lutropin had no influence on the synthesis of the protein in the presence of actinomycin D. Synthesis of the protein was also stimulated in vivo by injection of choriogonadotropin into rats 1 day after hypophysectomy, and the time course of this stimulation of lutropin-induced protein synthesis in vivo was similar to that obtained by incubating Leydig cells in vitro with lutropin. From these results it is concluded that stimulation of lutropin-induced protein synthesis by lutropin is most probably mediated by cyclic AMP and involves synthesis of mRNA.

scholarly journals Correlation of protein kinase activation and testosterone production after stimulation of Leydig cells with luteinizing hormone

1976 ◽  
Vol 160 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
B A Cooke ◽  
M L Lindh ◽  
F H A Janszen
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Protein Kinases ◽  
Leydig Cell ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Kinase Activation ◽  
Testosterone Production ◽  
Protein Kinase Activation ◽  
Stimulation Of

The effect of different doses of luteinizing hormone on activation of protein kinases, cyclic AMP and testosterone production was studied in purified rat testis Leydig-cell preparations in the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor). In addition, the nature of the protein kinases present in these cells and other tissues was investigated. The following results were obtained. 1. With all the amounts of luteinizing hormone used (0.1-1000 ng/ml), both activation of protein kinase and stimulation of testosterone production were demonstrated. With the lowest amount of luteinizing hormone (0.1 ng/ml), an 8.4±0.9% (S.E.M.,n=6) stimulation of protein kinase activation occurred, increasing to 100% with 1000 ng/ml, compared with 3.2±1.0%(S.E.M.,n=7) and 100% stimulation of testosterone production with 0.1 and 100 ng/ml respectively. 2. With amounts of luteinizing hormone up to 1 ng/ml (which gave half-maximal stimulation of testosterone production) no detectable increases in net cyclic AMP production were obtained. With higher amounts of luteinizing hormone, cyclic AMP production increased, but maximal production was not reached with 1000 ng/ml. 3. Two isoenzymic forms of protein kinase were present in Leydig cells and seminiferous tubules; type I was eluted with 0.075 M-and type II with 0.22-0.25 M-NaCl from DEAE-cellulose columns. 4. The protein kinase activity was not affected by the presence of erythrocytes in the Leydig-cell preparation, but varied depending on the type of histone used as substrate (histone F2b > mixed > histone F1).

scholarly journals Effect of protein-synthesis inhibitors on testosterone production in rat testis interstitial tissue and Leydig-cell preparations

1975 ◽  
Vol 150 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
B A Cooke ◽  
F H Janszen ◽  
W F Clotscher ◽  
H J van der Molen
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Leydig Cell ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Interstitial Tissue ◽  
Protein Synthesis Inhibitors ◽  
Rat Testis ◽  
Testosterone Production

Luteinizing-hormone-stimulated testosterone biosynthesis was inhibited by cycloheximide during incubation of rat testis intersitial tissue in vitro and also by puromycin and cycloheximide during incubation of Leydig-cell preparations, but not by chloramphenicol. These results suggest that a protein regualtor(s) formed by cytoplasmic protein synthesis is involved in steroidogenesis in the rat testis. The specific effect of cycloheximide and puromycin on protein synthesis rather than on other non-specific processes is suggested by the inhibition of protein synthesis and steroidogenesis with different doses of the inhibitors and the lack of effect of cycloheximide on luteinizing-hormone-induced adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate production. Stimulation of testosterone production by luteinizing hormone during superfusion of interstitial tissue was detectable within 10-20 min and reached a maximum of 120 min, and thereafter slowly decreased. Cycloheximide added at maximum steroid production caused a rapid decrease in testosterone synthesis which followed first-order kinetics (half-life 13 min), thus indicating that the protein regulator(s) has a short half-life. No effect of cycloheximide, puromycin or chloramphenicol on testosterone production in the absence of added luteinizing hormone was found, suggesting that the basal production of testosterone is independent of protein synthesis.

scholarly journals Calmidazolium is a potent stimulator of steroidogenesis via mechanisms not involving cyclic AMP, calcium or protein synthesis

1992 ◽  
Vol 281 (1) ◽  
pp. 291-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
M S K Choi ◽  
B A Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Dose Range ◽  
Protein Translation ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Dibutyryl Cyclic Amp ◽  
Adrenocortical Cells ◽  
Potent Stimulator ◽  
Chain Cleavage

This study reports an unexpected effect of calmidazolium on steroidogenesis. In contrast with previous work, which established that calmidazolium inhibits hormone-stimulated testosterone production in rat Leydig cells, the present study demonstrates that this compound is a potent stimulator of steroidogenesis when added by itself; this stimulation (approx. 10-fold in a 2 h incubation), was obtained over a narrow dose range (e.g.1-10 microM) in mouse and rat Leydig cells and in rat adrenocortical cells. The same concentrations of calmidazolium decreased basal cyclic AMP to undetectable levels in rat Leydig cells. Also, cyclic AMP stimulated with luteinizing hormone (LH), cholera toxin and forskolin was inhibited by calmidazolium (ED50 2 microM). In contrast with the actions of LH and cyclic AMP analogues on steroidogenesis, the effect of calmidazolium was not inhibited by removal of extracellular Ca2+, or by the addition of La3+ (a Ca(2+)-entry blocker), or the addition of cycloheximide (an inhibitor of protein translation). However, like dibutyryl cyclic AMP, calmidazolium-stimulated steroidogenesis was inhibited by aminoglutethimide, an inhibitor of cholesterol side-chain cleavage. Another calmodulin inhibitor, trifluoperazine, did not stimulate steroidogenesis. It is concluded that calmidazolium has a similar effect on steroidogenesis to LH, but by-passes the requirements for cyclic AMP, Ca2+, and protein synthesis. Calmidazolium is therefore a potentially important probe for elucidating the mechansims of control of steroidogenesis.

scholarly journals The role of Ca2+ in steroidogenesis in Leydig cells. Stimulation of intracellular free Ca2+ by lutropin (LH), luliberin (LHRH) agonist and cyclic AMP

1986 ◽  
Vol 236 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
M H F Sullivan ◽  
B A Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Second Messenger ◽  
Lhrh Agonist ◽  
Dibutyryl Cyclic Amp ◽  
Testosterone Production ◽  
Agonist Action ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Stimulation Of

The requirements of purified rat Leydig cells for intra- and extra-cellular Ca2+ during steroidogenesis stimulated by LH (lutropin), cyclic AMP analogues and LHRH (luliberin) agonist were investigated. The intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) were measured by using the fluorescent Ca2+ chelator quin-2. The basal [Ca2+]i was found to be 89.4 +/- 16.6 nM (mean +/- S.D., n = 25). LH, 8-bromo cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic AMP increased [Ca2+]i, by 300-500 nM at the highest concentrations of each stimulator, whereas LHRH agonist only increased [Ca2+]i by a maximum of approx. 60 nM. Low concentrations of LH (less than 1 pg/ml) and all concentrations of LHRH agonist increased testosterone without detectable changes in cyclic AMP. With amounts of LH greater than 1 pg/ml, parallel increases in cyclic AMP and [Ca2+]i occurred. The steroidogenic effect of the LHRH agonist was highly dependent on extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]e), whereas LH effects were only decreased by 35% when [Ca2+]e was lowered from 2.5 nM to 1.1 microM. No increase in [Ca2+]i occurred with the LHRH agonist in the low-[Ca2+]e medium, whereas LH (100 ng/ml) gave an increase of 52 nM. It is concluded that [Ca2+]i can be modulated in rat Leydig cells by LH via mechanisms that are both independent of and dependent on cyclic AMP, whereas LHRH-agonist action on [Ca2+]i is independent of cyclic AMP. The evidence obtained suggests that, at sub-maximal rates of testosterone production, Ca2+, rather than cyclic AMP, is the second messenger, whereas for maximum steroidogenesis both Ca2+- and cyclic-AMP-dependent pathways may be involved.

TESTOSTERONE SECRETION BY FOETAL RAT TESTES IN VITRO

1976 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
RÉGINE PICON
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Synthetic Medium ◽  
Functional Differentiation ◽  
Dibutyryl Cyclic Amp ◽  
Testosterone Secretion ◽  
Testosterone Production ◽  
Foetal Rat

SUMMARY Testosterone secretion by foetal rat testes (13½–21½ days of gestation) explanted for 3 days in a synthetic medium was measured every 24 h by radioimmunoassay. During the first day of explantation, the foetal testis produced, respectively, 1013 ± 132, 8734 ± 1118, 9179 ± 2185 and 3886 ± 309 (s.e.m.) pg/testis when explanted at 14½, 16½, 18½ and 21½ days respectively. Testosterone production by 13½-day-old testes was not detectable on the first day of culture, but appeared on subsequent days. Daily testosterone secretion increased on the 2nd and 3rd days of culture in 14½-day-old testes and decreased in older stages. These results suggest that the functional differentiation of the testis is independent of stimulatory factors like gonadotrophins. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP was found to stimulate testosterone production significantly from 14½ days of gestation onwards.

scholarly journals Secretion and degradation of parathormone as a function of intracellular maturation of hormone pools

1979 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 521-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
JJ Morrissey ◽  
DV Cohn
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Calcium Concentration ◽  
Hormone Secretion ◽  
Ionized Calcium ◽  
Dibutyryl Cyclic Amp ◽  
Low Calcium ◽  
High Calcium ◽  
Parathormone Secretion

The biosynthesis, processing, and secretion of parthormone and the effect of calcium on these processes were measured in dispersed porcine parthyroid cells incubated with [(35)S]methionine. Proparathormone was detected at 10 min, the earliest time measured, and was rapidly and apparently quantitatively converted to parathormone. The half-life of the prohomormone pool was 15 min. Secretion of parathormone was detected by 20 min. In pulse-chase experiments there was a period between 20 and 40 min during which the wave of newly-synthesized parathormone was secreted. After 40 min during little additional radioactive hormone was secreted, but dibutyryl cyclic AMP, an agent that can mobilize stored parathormone, when added to the incubation mixtures enhanced radioactive parathormone secretion but only after 60 min, although it increased net hormone secretion as determined by radioimmunoassay to the same extent at all times studied. When the ionized calcium concentration of the medium was lowered, more radioactive hormone was secreted at all times but the effect was greatest on that hormone that was synthesized less than 60 min previously ; however, net hormone secretion in contrast to radioactive hormone was enhanced equally at all intervals. These data could mean that the refractoriness to secretion of parathormone 40-60 min of age was related to maturation of secretory container preparatory to storage. Low calcium (0.5 mM) stimulated hormone secretion up to fivefold compared to high calcium (3.0 mM) but did not affect synthesis of parathormone or proparathormne or conversion of the latter to hormone. During processing at least 70 percent of the intracellular parathormone was lost, presumably through proteolysis and this degradation was greater at high calcium. These data have been interpreted in light of the concept that two secretable pools of parathormone exist within the parathyroid.

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