Search

Pregnenolone sulfate (PS) is a neuroactive steroid hormone produced in the brain. In this study, the effects of PS on synthesis and secretion of rat pituitary prolactin (PRL) were examined. To accomplish this, GH3 rat pituitary adenoma cells were treated with PS, which showed significantly increased mRNA and protein levels of PRL compared with the control. The mechanism of action responsible for the effects of PS on PRL synthesis and secretion was investigated by pretreating cells with inhibitors of traditional PRL- or the PS-related signaling pathway. PS-stimulated PRL transcription was significantly reduced by inhibitors of PKA, PKC and MAPK, but unchanged by GABAAR and NMDAR inhibitors. Western blotting analysis revealed that the total ERK1/2 level was upregulated in a time-dependent manner following PS treatment. An approximate 10% increase in GH3 cell proliferation was also observed in response to PS relative to the control. In the animal study, levels of PRL in the pituitary and in serum were elevated by PS. PS-stimulated PRL synthesis was also found to be associated with decreased expression of PRL target genes such as GNRH1, FSHB and LHB. These findings show that PS upregulates PRL synthesis and secretionin vivoandin vitrovia MAPK signaling, suggesting that it has the potential for use as a therapeutic hormone to treat PRL-related disorders such as hypoprolactinemia and low milk supply.

In mouse uterus, at the late diestrus stage LH binding sites have previously been described. The aim of our study was to confirm the existence ofLHreceptor (Lhr(Lhcgr)) mRNA and its protein in mouse endometrium. Endometrium at all stages of the estrous cycle containedLhrmRNA, essentially identical to that found in mouse ovary. Endometrium also contained a 72 kDa immunoreactive receptor protein that bound to mouse anti-LHR antibody in western blot. Both receptor mRNA and protein were maximally expressed in the endometrium at metestrus and LH caused a significant increase in their expression levels. Endometrium also contained 3β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (3β-hsd) mRNA and 3β-HSD protein. LH addition elevated their expression and activity as evident from increased conversion of labeled pregnenolone to progesterone (P4) andde novoP4synthesis. LH-induced endometrial P4synthesis is mediated through expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (Star) gene. Results demonstrated that LH-induced P4synthesis in endometrium is possibly mediated through the cAMP pathway. Involvement of a MAPK pathway was also evident. Gonadotropin-stimulated endometrial P4synthesis was markedly attenuated by an antagonist of MEK1/2, PD98059. LH-stimulated MEK1/2-dependent phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in a concentration- and time-dependant manner in cultured endometrial tissues. Moreover, involvement of cAMP in LH-stimulated activation of ERK1/2 was also evident. It is therefore possible that the major signaling pathways regulating endometrial steroidogenesis in mouse, including the adenylate cyclase and MAP kinase pathways, converge at a point distal to activation of protein kinase A and ERK1/2.

During the aging process of males, testosterone biosynthesis declines in testicular Leydig cells resulting in decreases in various physiological functions. To explore the possibility of delaying the decline using food supplements, we have studied steroidogenic effects of a natural flavonoid, chrysin, in mouse Leydig cells. Chrysin dramatically increased cyclic AMP (cAMP)-induced steroidogenesis in MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells. This result was confirmed using Leydig cells isolated from mouse testes. The steroidogenic effect of chrysin is not associated with an increase in expression of the P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme, required for the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone. In addition, when 22(R)hydroxylcholesterol was used as a substrate, chrysin induced a non-significant increase in steroid hormone, suggesting that the majority of the observed increase in steroidogenesis was due to the increased supply of substrate cholesterol. These observations were corroborated by showing that chrysin induced a marked increase in the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein, the factor that controls mitochondrial cholesterol transfer. Also, chrysin significantly increased StAR promoter activity and StAR mRNA level. Further studies indicated that this compound depressed expression of DAX-1, a repressor in StAR gene transcription. In the absence of cAMP, chrysin did not increase steroidogenesis. However, when a sub-threshold level of cAMP was used, StAR protein and steroid hormone were increased by chrysin to the levels seen with maximal stimulation of cAMP. These results suggest that while chrysin itself is unable to induce StAR gene expression and steroidogenesis, it appears to function by increasing the sensitivity of Leydig cells to cAMP stimulation.

Important gender differences in mood disorders result in a greater susceptibility for women. Accumulating evidence suggests a reciprocal modulation between the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) system and neuroactive steroids. Previous data from our laboratory have shown that during pregnancy, the firing activity of 5-HT neurons increases in parallel with progesterone levels. This study was undertaken to evaluate the putative modulation of the 5-HT neuronal firing activity by different neurosteroids. Female rats received i.c.v. for 7 days a dose of 50 micro g/kg per day of one of the following steroids: progesterone, pregnenolone, 5beta-pregnane-3,20-dione (5beta-DHP), 5beta-pregnan-3alpha-ol,20-one, 5beta-pregnan-3beta-ol,20-one, 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione, 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol,20-one (allopregnanolone, 3alpha,5alpha-THP), 5alpha-pregnane-3beta-ol,20-one and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). 5beta-DHP and DHEA were also administered for 14 and 21 days (50 micro g/kg per day, i.c.v.) as well as concomitantly with the selective sigma 1 (sigma1) receptor antagonist NE-100. In vivo, extracellular unitary recording of 5-HT neurons performed in the dorsal raphe nucleus of these rats revealed that DHEA, 5beta-DHP and 3alpha,5alpha-THP significantly increased the firing activity of the 5-HT neurons. Interestingly, 5beta-DHP and DHEA showed different time-frames for their effects with 5beta-DHP having its greatest effect after 7 days to return to control values after 21 days, whereas DHEA demonstrated a sustained effect over the 21 day period. NE-100 prevented the effect of DHEA but not of 5beta-DHP, thus indicating that its sigma1 receptors mediate the effect of DHEA but not that of 5beta-DHP. In conclusion, our results offer a cellular basis for potential antidepressant effects of neurosteroids, which may prove important particularly for women with affective disorders.

Neuroactive steroids may be synthesised in the brain either de novo from cholesterol or from blood-borne precursors. Concentrations of a GABAA receptor agonist, allopregnanolone, in the fetal brain exceed those in the circulation, and are markedly higher than adult brain concentrations. We used fetal hypophysectomy or adrenalectomy to elucidate the contribution of hypothalamic-pituitary factors and adrenal steroid secretion to the overall neuroactive steroid level in both the fetal brain and the fetal circulation. Hypophysectomy or adrenalectomy was performed between 108 and 112 days of gestation (term approximately 147 days) and fetal tissues were collected at 140 days of gestation. Immunoreactive (ir) ACTH and cortisol in the plasma were significantly reduced after hypophysectomy, whereas adrenalectomy led to increased irACTH but significantly decreased cortisol concentrations, as expected. Brain concentrations of allopregnanolone, progesterone and pregnenolone did not change significantly in fetuses that underwent either hypophysectomy or adrenalectomy; however, concentrations in the plasma and content in the adrenal gland were decreased. Expression of cytochrome P450 scc and 5alpha-reductase type II (5alphaRII) in the brain, measured by western immunoblotting, did not change after either hypophysectomy or adrenalectomy but, after hypophysectomy, expression of P450 scc in the adrenal gland was significantly decreased and that of 5alphaRII remained unchanged. These findings suggest that the regulation of the neuroactive steroid content in the fetal brain is independent of adrenal steroidogenesis and hypothalamic-pituitary factors. Furthermore, the absence of a change in enzyme expression in the brain suggests that the control of the expression of these enzymes is independent of hypothalamic-pituitary factors. Thus local control mechanisms within the brain may be responsible for maintaining the high neurosteroid content present during fetal life, as these mechanisms are independent of adrenal steroid production.

Heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes the first and rate-controlling step of heme catabolism into biliverdin, iron and carbon monoxide. Three isoforms of HO have been identified so far: the inducible HO-1 and the constitutive HO-2 and HO-3. Both HO-1 and HO-2 were expressed in zona fasciculata (ZF) adrenal cells and in a mouse adrenocortical cell line (Y1). HO-1 but not HO-2 expression was upregulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and accumulation of HO-1 protein correlated with an increase in HO activity in Y1 cells. ACTH induced HO-1 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner with a maximum after 5 h of treatment and a threshold concentration of 0.1 mIU/ml. Actinomycin D and cycloheximide completely blocked the effect of ACTH on HO-1 mRNA expression whereas mRNA stability was not affected by ACTH. Permeable analogs of cAMP mimicked the effect of ACTH on HO-1 expression and ACTH induction was prevented by the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H89. Steroid production was significantly increased when both HO-1 and HO-2 activities were inhibited by Sn-protoporphyrin IX (SnPPIX). The lipid peroxidation and increase in carbonyl content triggered by hydrogen peroxide was prevented by treatment of Y1 cells with bilirubin and ACTH.

Endometrial carcinoma is a common malignancy of the genital tract. In the present study, we examined the expression of human steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein, P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450 scc), 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-desmolase (P45017alpha) and aromatase (P450 arom) in endometrial carcinoma cells to clarify the ability of these cells to produce steroid hormones. The results of RT-PCR analysis showed that StAR, P450 scc and P45017alpha genes were expressed in endometrial carcinoma cells. To examine the protein expression of StAR and P450 scc, we performed Western blotting using extracts from carcinoma cells. StAR protein and P450 scc were detected in both HHUA and HOUA-1 cells. The production of pregnenolone in HHUA cells increased 2.4-fold with transfection of a StAR expression vector and 4.3-fold with transfection of an F2 side-chain cleavage system. The RT-PCR product of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was present in endometrial carcinoma cells. In endometrial carcinoma cells, the production of progesterone also increased with over-expression of StAR and the F2 system. Results of steroid metabolic assays showed that endometrial carcinoma cells produced not only 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone but also androstenedione. Endometrial carcinoma cells express enzymes that are associated with the production of steroid hormones. Locally produced steroid hormones may have effects on tumor proliferation and tumorigenesis.

The control of ACTH-stimulated steroidogenesis under decreasing levels of O(2) is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of decreased O(2) in vitro on rat adrenocortical steroid synthesis at different stages of development. Of interest was the evaluation of the effect of low O(2) on steroidogenesis during the stress hyporesponsive period of the neonate. Rats were killed at 7, 14, or 42 days of age, adrenals collected and capsules (zona glomerulosa, ZG) separated from subcapsules (zona fasciculata/reticularis, ZFR). Cells were dispersed and placed into glass vials each gassed with a different level of O(2) (21, 5, 2, 1, or 0% O(2)). The entire steroidogenic pathway was analyzed by measuring ACTH-stimulated cAMP, corticosterone and aldosterone production during a 2 h incubation. In addition, the early (P450 scc) and late (P450c11 beta and P450 aldo) pathway activities were examined in the presence of cyanoketone. The PO(2) for half-maximal activity (P(50)) for aldosterone synthesis in ZG cells from 7- and 42-day-old rats was approximately 28 mmHg and 7 mmHg respectively, indicating that cells from older rats were more resistant to inhibition by low O(2). The P(50) for cAMP production from the ZG was approximately 14 mmHg for both age groups. The P(50) for corticosterone synthesis was approximately 28 mmHg and

Y1 adrenocortical cells respond to activators of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) signalling pathway not only with increases in steroid secretion but also with a characteristic change in cell morphology from flat and adherent to round and loosely attached. This change of shape, which may facilitate cholesterol transport to the mitochondrion, requires tyrosine dephosphorylation of the focal adhesion protein, paxillin, and can be blocked by inhibitors of phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity. In a previous study we demonstrated that inhibition of phosphoserine/threonine phosphatase 1 and 2A (PP1/2A) activities caused a similar morphological response to PKA activation whilst opposing the effects on steroid production. We have now investigated the responses to PKA activation and inhibition of PP1/2A and used PTP inhibitors to examine the relationship between the morphological changes and enhanced steroid production. Both forskolin (FSK) and the PP1/2A inhibitor, calyculin A (CA), caused rapid and extensive rounding of Y1 cells. FSK-induced cell rounding was reversible and accompanied by a reduction in the tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin. Rounding was prevented by the PTP inhibitors pervanadate (PV) and calpeptin (CP) and was associated with the maintained tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin. In contrast, CA-induced cell rounding was not reversible over a 2-h period and was not affected by the presence of PTP inhibitors, and CA had no effect on the tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin. Although neither CA nor FSK produced any gross changes in cell viability as judged by Trypan Blue exclusion or mitochondrial activity, CA-treated cells showed a marked reduction in total protein synthesis assessed by (35)S-incorporation. The effects of FSK and the PTP inhibitors on cell rounding were reflected in their effects on steroid production since PV and CP also inhibited FSK-stimulated steroid production. These results suggest that the mechanism through which inhibition of PP1/2A activities induces morphological changes in Y1 cells is fundamentally different from that seen in response to activation of PKA. They are consistent with PKA-induced shape changes in adrenocortical cells being mediated through increased PTP activity and the dephosphorylation of paxillin, and support the view that the morphological and functional responses to PKA activation in steroidogenic cells are intimately linked.

The rate-limiting step of steroidogenesis is the transport of the substrate cholesterol from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane which involves a cycloheximide-sensitive newly synthesized protein. A protein believed to carry out this function was recently cloned from MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells and named the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). In the present study, we evaluated the expression and regulation of StAR in primary cultures of rat Leydig cells. StAR mRNA was expressed in Leydig cells as two major transcripts of 3.8 and 1.7 kb and one minor transcript of 1.2 kb. Induction of StAR mRNA transcripts could be detected as early as 30 min after the addition of human choriogonadotropin (hCG) with peak levels attained between 2 and 4 h. hCG in concentrations of 0.1-10 ng/ml caused a dose-dependent increase in StAR mRNA expression. hCG administered at a dose of 10 ng/ml increased the 3.8 kb StAR mRNA level about 14-fold and the 1.7 kb StAR mRNA level about 13.6-fold. hCG-stimulated StAR mRNA was associated with increased StAR protein levels as determined by immunoblot analysis (a 4.5-fold increase). Murine interleukin-1 alpha (mIL-1 alpha) at a concentration of 100 ng/ml inhibited hCG-induced cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450 scc) mRNA expression and testosterone formation almost completely. Interestingly, mIL-1 alpha had no effect on hCG-induced StAR mRNA or protein levels. Furthermore, mIL-1 alpha (10 ng/ml) decreased conversion of (22R)-hydroxycholesterol to testosterone while the conversion of pregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione to testosterone were not affected. These results indicate that the major inhibitory effect of IL-1 on Leydig cell function occurs at the level of P450 scc.

We have investigated the expression of cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc) and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) type 1 genes during human trophoblast differentiation in culture and the modulation of their steady-state mRNA levels by steroids. During the first 24 to 48 h after plating, mononucleated cells aggregated, forming colonies. After 60 h in culture, cell diameters were increased and nuclei appeared centrally distributed within large cells, consistent with syncytiotrophoblast formation. During these striking morphological changes in culture the expression and activity levels of 3 beta-HSD type 1 and P450scc increased significantly as isolated cytotrophoblasts progressed to a differentiated state, with P450scc and 3 beta-HSD type 1 mRNAs activities being more abundant in cells cultured for 48 to 72 h. In the same culture, however, the amount of 3 beta-HSD protein decreased during the first 12 to 24 h by 50% compared with freshly isolated trophoblasts but remained at these levels throughout the culture period. The specific activity of the 3 beta-HSD as determined with pregnenolone or dehydroepiandrosterone was similar but increased with time as syncytiotrophoblast was formed in vitro. These observations provide additional evidence that the expression of these two progesterone-synthesizing enzymes is coincident and that they reach their maximum steady-state mRNA levels at a time when syncytium formation occurs in vitro. Incubation of trophoblast cells with progesterone or estradiol increased the abundance of P450scc and 3 beta-HSD type 1 mRNAs but had no significant effect on the amount of 3 beta-HSD protein. These observations of the regulation of 3 beta-HSD type 1 mRNA levels by steroids suggest a complex relationship of the mechanisms regulating transcription/mRNA processing and transduction of the 3 beta-HSD type 1 gene.

We have studied the binding of a number of radiolabelled steroids and lipophilic substances to porcine corpus luteum (CL) particulate fractions. Following preincubation of CL homogenates with radiolabelled progesterone or pregnenolone prior to fractionation on continuous sucrose density gradients, a broad peak of binding was observed associated with a particulate fraction of buoyant density 1·05–1·10 g/cm3. Progesterone content also peaked at a similar buoyant density (1·06–1·12 g/cm3). Pretreatment of luteal homogenates with digitonin perturbed the buoyant density of the progesterone-binding particulate fraction to 1·10–1·14 g/cm3 and sharpened the binding peak. Progesterone content was also perturbed to a similar extent by digitonin pretreatment, without release of the steroid. Oestrogens were also sequestered by this fraction, but steroid precursors (cholesterol, cholesterol ester), corticosteroids (cortisol, corticosterone), sterol conjugates (oestrone sulphate, pregnanediol glucuronide) and other lipophilic substances (arachidonic acid, phospholipid, prostaglandins E1, E2 and F2α) were not bound. Androgens were bound weakly by fractions from control gradients but, in the presence of digitonin, significant binding could be demonstrated. Radiolabelled steroids were shown to interact directly with luteal membrane fractions, rather than interacting first with cytosolic steroid receptors which then bound to membranes. Furthermore, [3H]progesterone was not bound by porcine granulosa cell particulate fractions. These observations suggest that this fraction may be involved in sequestration or packaging of progesterone for secretion by the luteal cell. Journal of Endocrinology (1993) 136, 371–380

It is possible that some of the effects of sodium pentobarbitone on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in the intact animal may be attributable to direct actions on the adrenal cortex. The effects of the barbiturate on steroid production by rat adrenal preparations in vitro have therefore been examined. In zona glomerulosa cells, pentobarbitone inhibited basal steroid production in a dose-related fashion. For aldosterone and corticosterone, the doses required for 50% inhibition of production (IC50) were 1·2 mmol pentobarbitone/l and 3·7 mmol/l respectively. Steroidogenesis was inhibited at lower levels of pentobarbitone in the presence of 1 nmol ACTH/l (IC50 = 0·5 mmol pentobarbitone/l for aldosterone and 2·2 mmol/l for corticosterone). In zona fasciculata/reticularis cells, production of corticosterone was similarly reduced with an IC50 of 2·8 mmol pentobarbitone/l for basal production and 1·3 mmol/l for ACTH-stimulated production. The dose-related increases in corticosterone production produced by ACTH (0·1–1000 pmol/l) or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (0·1–1·0 mmol/l) were also eliminated in the presence of 2 mmol pentobarbitone/l. The effects of pentobarbitone (1–4 mmol/l) on the production of pregnenolone and deoxycorticosterone (DOC) were also studied. In zona fasciculata/reticularis cells, the responses of both pregnenolone and DOC were bell-shaped with increases at 1 mmol pentobarbitone/l, which fell back to control levels at 4 mmol pentobarbitone/l. Stimulation of DOC, accompanied by decreases in aldosterone and corticosterone production, was also seen in zona glomerulosa cells at 1 mmol pentobarbitone/l. The effect of 1 mmol pentobarbitone/l on the conversion of 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol (5-cholestene-3β,22(R)-diol), pregnenolone, progesterone and DOC to corticosterone and aldosterone by zona glomerulosa preparations was studied. There was a comparable reduction in the conversion of these precursors (2 μmol/l) to aldosterone with yields decreased to 20–30% of those found in the absence of pentobarbitone. The dose required for 50% reduction of the conversion of progesterone (2 μmol/l) to aldosterone was 0·55 mmol pentobarbitone/l and for corticosterone the dose was 1·75 mmol pentobarbitone/l. The results obtained show that pentobarbitone is an effective inhibitor of corticosteroid biosynthesis in rat adrenal cells, and suggest that its effects are brought about by inhibition of cytochrome P450-mediated hydroxylations. Journal of Endocrinology (1993) 136, 75–83

Testicular feminized (Tfm) mice are totally insensitive to androgen and may be used to study the role of the androgen receptor in normal development and function. We have examined testicular and Leydig cell steroidogenesis in Tfm mice. Serum bioactive LH was high in Tfm mice but serum testosterone was low and this was associated with a severe reduction in testicular testosterone production in vitro. Examination of [3H]pregnenolone metabolism by testes of Tfm mice indicated that progesterone, rather than testosterone, was the major steroid produced. Leydig cells were isolated from normal and Tfm mice and from normal mice in which testicular descent was surgically prevented before puberty. As in whole testes, androgen production in response to human chorionic gonadotrophin was severely reduced in Leydig cells from testes of Tfm mice compared with normal or cryptorchid groups. In contrast, progesterone production by Leydig cells from testes of Tfm mice was markedly increased in comparison with other groups. Total steroid production (progesterone plus androstenedione plus testosterone), however, was only 24% of normal in Leydig cells from Tfm mice. The pattern of steroid production by Leydig cells from cryptorchid testes was similar to control, although total steroid production was reduced to about 50% (this was significantly higher than the Tfm group, PTfm mice suggested that 17α-hydroxylase was depleted in these animals. To confirm this, activity of the four major steroidogenic enzymes associated with the smooth endoplasmic reticulum was measured. Activities (per testis) of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 5α-reductase were normal in Tfm and cryptorchid mice but, as expected, 17α-hydroxylase activity was only 2·4% of control and 4·5% of cryptorchid testes. 17-Ketosteroid reductase activity was markedly reduced in cryptorchid testes (14·4% of control) but there was a further reduction in testes from Tfm mice to 0·1% of control. Results show that the Tfm mutation is associated with marked loss of 17α-hydroxylase and 17-ketosteroid reductase activities. This suggests that these enzymes may require receptor-mediated androgen stimulation during development to express normal activity. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 131, 443–449

The presence and production of 5-ene-steroid fatty acid esters (SFA) has been previously reported in bovine adrenals. A study was conducted, using a series of chromatographic procedures and radioimmunoassays, to determine the levels of SFA in adrenals from man, cattle, dog, rat and guinea-pig, and to assess, in both rats and guinea-pigs, the effect of ACTH on SFA production by adrenals and their subsequent secretion into the circulation. The effects of ACTH on plasma SFA and non-conjugated steroid levels were also investigated in human subjects. Our data indicated that adrenal pregnenolone fatty acid ester (PREG-FA) levels were below 40% of PREG levels in cattle, dog, rat and guinea-pig while, in man, PREG-FA levels were threefold those of PREG. A large proportion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and 5-androstene-3β,17β-diol were present as fatty acid ester derivatives in the adrenals of all species, with the exception of cattle. In both rats and guineapigs, administration of ACTH caused a sharp increase in adrenal PREG of approximately threefold which lasted for 6 h, while the concentration of adrenal PREG-FA was slightly increased for a short time. In plasma, however, a marked rise in PREG-FA occurred, while the changes in PREG levels were much lower than those of its acylated counterpart. In man, PREG and DHEA concentrations were rapidly stimulated two-fold in the first 30 min following the administration of ACTH, while PREG-FA and DHEA-FA levels were increased by approximately 2·5-fold (P Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 127, 505–511

The site of action of 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HPETE) in ACTH-induced stimulation of steroidogenesis was examined in rat adrenocortical fasciculata cells. Prior addition of AA861, a specific inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase, had no significant effect on cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity and cholesterol esterase activities, when stimulated by ACTH in adrenocortical cells, compared with that stimulated by ACTH alone. Cholesterol accumulation in the mitochondria of cells treated with ACTH and cycloheximide was also not altered by pretreatment with AA861. We found, however, that pregnenolone formation, stimulated by ACTH, decreased in a dose-dependent manner when cells were pretreated with AA861. The inhibition of ACTH-stimulated pregnenolone formation by treatment with AA861 was restored only by prior addition of 5-HPETE. Furthermore, addition of AA861 also did not affect the conversion of pregnenolone into corticosterone. In conclusion, 5-HPETE may act at the level of the mitochondria in ACTH-induced steroidogenesis in rat adrenal fasciculata cells. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 125, 89–96

Hypogonadal (hpg) mice have a congenital deficiency of hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and the gonads consequently lack exposure to gonadotrophins during development. We injected male hpg mice with LH for 10 days to investigate whether LH alone can stimulate normal steroidogenesis in these animals. Control animals had an inactive interstitium and very few germ cells. Testicular content of androgens was undetectable by radioimmunoassay in control animals unless a single injection of LH was given 1 h before death, when androgens were just detectable. Control testes incubated in vitro with [3H]pregnenolone demonstrated that without gonadotrophin stimulation pregnenolone was metabolized only to progesterone in significant amounts. Assay for cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc) mRNA showed basal expression in saline-treated hpg mouse testis. LH treatment induced hypertrophy and hyperplasia of Leydig cells and division of germ cells. Testicular androgen content increased significantly, with testosterone and androstenedione as the major androgens. LH-treated testes incubated with [3H]pregnenolone in vitro had a greater synthetic capacity for testosterone, suggesting an increase in 17α-hydroxylase/C17–20-lyase activity. Basal and human chorionic gonadotrophinstimulated androgen production in vitro increased markedly following LH treatment to levels previously described in the normal adult animal. LH treatment caused a rapid and transient increase in the hybridization of P450scc mRNA which was sevenfold greater than that of saline-treated controls when the animals were killed 1 h after the last injection but fell to control levels within 24 h of cessation of treatment. We conclude that LH alone can stimulate steroidogenesis in testes of hpg mice, and that previous exposure of the tissue to physiological concentrations of endogenous gonadotrophins is not required to obtain normal steroidogenic responsiveness. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 125, 131–138

Parturition in the sheep is preceded by an abrupt alteration in placental steroid metabolism causing a shift from progesterone to oestrogen production. This change is believed to be a consequence of the prepartum rise in cortisol in the fetal circulation and involves increases in activities of the enzymes steroid 17α-hydroxylase (cytochrome P-45017α), steroid C-17,20-lyase, and possibly aromatase and steroid sulphatase. The activity levels have been determined of steroid 17α-hydroxylase, aromatase and steroid sulphatase in placental microsomes in late pregnancy, dexamethasone-induced labour and in natural labour at term. Over the gestational period of 118-140 days, basal levels of placental aromatase were relatively constant (mean value (±s.e.m.) of 5·6 ± 0·5 pmol/min per mg microsomal protein (n = 10)). Pregnenolone and progesterone 17α-hydroxylase activities were undetectable (< 0·5 pmol/min per mg microsomal protein (n = 7)). In six animals in labour induced with infusion of dexamethasone into the fetus, placental aromatase activity increased to a value of 14·0± 1·0 pmol/min per mg protein; placental pregnenolone 17α-hydroxylase, measured in four of the animals, also increased to 453 ± 77 pmol/min per mg microsomal protein. In five animals in natural spontaneous labour with vaginal delivery, aromatase activity was 26·7 ± 5·2 pmol/min per mg microsomal protein and pregnenolone 17α-hydroxylase activity was 141 ±14 pmol/min per mg microsomal protein. Steroid sulphatase activity was barely detectable (< 1·5 pmol/min per mg microsomal protein) during late pregnancy, dexamethasoneinduced labour or natural parturition. Immunoblotting of placental microsomal preparations with a specific antibody to cytochrome P-450 17α indicated that the glucocorticoid-induced activity of steroid 17α-hydroxylase was associated with an increased content of cytochrome P-45017α. The cotyledon can then convert pregnenolone to dehydroepiandrosterone and thereby generate aromatizable C19 steroids for the aromatase system to facilitate oestrogen synthesis. Importantly, the ovine placental steroid 17α-hydroxylase inefficiently metabolizes 17α-hydroxyprogesterone to androstenedione and thus progesterone is not a principal precursor of oestrogen. The data are consistent with a mechanism of glucocorticoid action in natural ovine parturition to increase cytochrome P-45017α synthesis either by stabilizing the mRNA for cytochrome P-45017α or else acting as a stimulus to transcription of the steroid 17α-hydroxylase gene. Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 122, 351–359

SUMMARY Facilitation of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion by progesterone was demonstrated in female rats ovariectomized 1–2 months previously and primed with oestradiol benzoate or testosterone propionate 72 h before the second injection of steroid. The priming action of testosterone propionate may be due to conversion to oestrogen as the non-aromatizable androgen, 5α-dihydrotestosterone propionate, did not have this effect. None of the steroid hormone treatments tested facilitated LH or FSH release in male rats castrated as adults or in female rats rendered anovulatory by the injection of androgen or oestrogen on day 4 of postnatal life. This abnormality may be the functional basis of the anovulatory state in these animals. Of the progesterone derivatives tested in the oestrogen-primed ovariectomized rat only pregn-4-en-20α-ol-3-one and 5α-pregnane-3,20-dione significantly stimulated gonadotrophin secretion. These compounds, which are secreted by the rat ovary, may be involved, together with progesterone, in the initiation of the ovulatory surge of gonadotrophin during the oestrous cycle. The time-course of the changes in gonadotrophin release in the oestrogen-primed ovariectomized rat in response to progesterone was determined. An initial depression was followed by an increase which was more marked for LH than for FSH. Although sodium pentobarbitone administration will prevent or reverse progesterone-induced gonadotrophin secretion, no clear correlation could be established between the sequence of changes in gonadotrophin secretion observed in the present study and the changes in hypothalamic neuronal activity reported by others to follow similar treatment with steroid hormones.

SUMMARY Protein moieties of various molecular sizes and possessing 5-ene-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity have been successfully solubilized from the microsomal membranes of both bovine and human adrenal glands using a combination of Triton X-100 and sonication. These moieties have been studied by gel filtration, sucrose density gradient centrifugation and isoelectric focusing, and were shown to possess a minimum molecular weight of about 118000, with an isoelectric point between 7·2 and 7·4. The molecular weight was dependent upon the concentration of Triton X-100 used during fractionation. No separation of dehydrogenase activities toward the three steroid substrates, pregnenolone, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroisoandrosterone, was observed. Changes in the relative activities for the steroid substrates during fractionation were observed, but have been attributed to the formation of allotypes rather than to the existence of separate dehydrogenases with restricted substrate specificity.

An enriched fraction of zona reticularis cells was obtained by unit gravity sedimentation of decapsulated adrenal glands from female rats. From light microscopic and ultrastructural studies of the whole gland and the isolated cell fractions, the zona reticularis cells of the adrenal gland can be classified mainly on the bases of size, position and mitochondrial morphology. This cell population consists of two types of cell, the 'true' zona reticularis cells (Type I, modal diameter 9 μm), which usually constitute 90% of the isolated reticularis fraction and 80% of the intact reticularis tissue, and cells (Type II, modal diameter 13 μm) with fasciculata-like properties (rich in lipid and spherical mitochondria with vesicular cristae). Staining of the cell preparation for 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity also demonstrates the existence of two types of cell in the zona reticularis. The zona reticularis cell fraction, like the zona fasciculata cell fraction, was capable of producing the subsequent steroids from radioactive pregnenolone: corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone, 11-dehydrocorticosterone, progesterone and androstenedione. However, the pattern of steroid production differed markedly between the zona reticularis and zona fasciculata cells, particularly with respect to the production of deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone (and its correlated steroids, 11-dehydrocorticosterone and 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone). When R (the ratio of deoxycorticosterone: corticosterone plus 11-dehydrocorticosterone) for the purest preparation of reticularis cells was compared with R for the corresponding preparation of fasciculata cells, the normalized ratio was found to be 6·4, 16·4 and 20·1 in three experiments. The pattern of production of androstenedione per cell was similar in the reticularis and fasciculata cell fractions. The exact mechanism for the altered pattern of steroid metabolism remains to be elucidated. However, these results establish that the corticosteroids produced by the cells of the zona reticularis may be quantitatively, if not qualitatively, different from those produced by the zona fasciculata cells.

Activity of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-5,4-en isomerase (3β-HSD; pregnenolone to progesterone) was investigated in homogenates of chorioallantois and amnion obtained from sheep at three gestational ages (day 50, day 100 and term) using an isotope assay. Chorioallantois and, to a lesser extent, amnion possessed 3β-HSD at each gestational age studied. Activity in the chorioallantoic membrane was greater at term than at days 50 and 100, and was similar to that in the placenta at day 100 and term. Activity in the placenta was considerably greater at day 50 than at day 100 and term. The subcellular distribution of 3β-HSD in chorioallantoic membrane was particulate in nature. The mean Km values (± s.e.m.) were 56·8 ± 5·5 and 39·0 ± 8·7 nmol/l at day 50 and term respectively. The mean Vmax values were 14·1 ±3·1 and 62·7± 11·4 pmol/min per mg protein at day 50 and term respectively. Several steroids inhibited the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone, particularly dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), oestrone and oestradiol. Oestrone and DHEA were competitive inhibitors. The Ki values were 19·6 ± 5·9 and 40·2± 14·7 nmol/l for oestrone and DHEA inhibition respectively. The results show that ovine fetal membranes have the capacity to convert pregnenolone to progesterone and demonstrate the possibility of inhibition by other steroids. Progesterone produced by the fetal membranes might influence the local intra-uterine steroid milieu during pregnancy and before parturition.

The patterns of testicular steroidogenesis were investigated during postnatal development in the normal mouse and in the hypogonadal (hpg) mouse from 20 days. The hpg mouse lacks GnRH and may be used to examine the function of this peptide in normal gonadal development. Testicular tissue was incubated with [3H]pregnenolone and metabolites were separated by thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. In the normal mouse from 1 to 10 days, metabolism occurred predominantly through the Δ4 pathway, and progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone were the main metabolites formed, together with significant amounts of an unidentified polar steroid. Between 15 and 25 days, androstenedione became the major metabolite formed from pregnenolone. There was also a marked increase in 5α-reductase activity during this age range, and 5α-dihydrotestosterone and 5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol were significant metabolites. In normal animals older than 30 days, testosterone became the major metabolite, and between 30 days and adulthood the pattern of metabolism changed significantly due to increased formation of intermediates from the Δ5pathway. In the hpg mouse between 20 and 30 days, the pattern of steroid metabolism was unlike that of any age of the normal animal. Progesterone was the major metabolite formed and dehydroisoandrosterone was the major C19 steroid formed, although significant levels of androstenedione and testosterone were also formed. After 30 days there was a marked decrease in steroid metabolism, with androstenedione (the major androgen) being formed mainly through the Δ4 pathway. Addition of human chorionic gonadotrophin to tissue from normal or hpg animals had little effect on the pattern of metabolism, except in the 10- and 20-day-old normal animal where there was an increased accumulation of progesterone. These results indicate that in the normal mouse the major testicular steroidogenic pathways show significant changes during development. In the hpg mouse the steroidogenic pathways are markedly different from those in normal animals, indicating the importance of the gonadotrophins in controlling the pattern of steroidogenesis. The change in the testicular steroidogenic pattern during development in the hpg mouse may also indicate, however, that these testes are under some stimulation during early postnatal development. J. Endocr. (1988) 119, 257–264

SUMMARY The role of pregnenolone sulphate in adrenal steroid biosynthesis and the ability of the human adrenal gland to synthesize and secrete dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHA sulphate) was investigated. The presence of pregnenolone sulphate and DHA sulphate was demonstrated by measuring their concentrations in human adrenal tissue. Pregnenolone sulphate was metabolized in vitro mainly to free steroids, including DHA and cortisol, as well as directly to DHA sulphate in some cases. Similar results were obtained upon perfusion of the adrenal gland in situ with [14C]pregnenolone and [3H]pregnenolone sulphate as the substrates and isolating the metabolites from the adrenal venous blood. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate was derived mainly from the sulphation of free DHA. The hydrolysis of DHA sulphate did not appear to make a significant contribution to the amounts of DHA synthesized under these conditions. The adrenal secretion of DHA and DHA sulphate by eight patients undergoing adrenalectomy was determined by measuring the concentrations of these compounds in samples of adrenal and peripheral venous blood taken simultaneously. In one patient secretion of DHA and DHA sulphate was equivalent whilst in the remainder there was much greater secretion of DHA.

Detailed histochemical localization of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and 17β-HSD was made in the goat testis using both NAD and NADP coenzymes. The substrates used for 3β-HSD were dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and pregnenolone whereas 17β-HSD was localized with testosterone and oestradiol. In general, the activity of the enzymes varied with the cell type, substrate and coenzyme. In seminiferous tubules, DHA and NAD were the preferred substrate and coenzyme respectively for 3β-HSD. In addition, in interstitial tissue, NAD was the preferred coenzyme with DHA whereas no such preference existed with pregnenolone. 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase showed a similar pattern in the two main compartments of the testis, as testosterone and oestradiol were equally utilized and NAD was the preferred coenzyme in both these compartments. The activities of the enzymes increased during the process of spermiogenesis and were higher in seminiferous tubules than in interstitial tissue, especially in elongated spermatids and spermatozoa. J. Endocr. (1984) 101, 359–363

The outputs of corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone and androstenedione from dispersed, purified rat adrenal zona reticularis and zona fasciculata cells have been measured by radioimmunoassay. Preferential production of deoxycorticosterone by zona reticularis cells was demonstrated by their higher basal deoxycorticosterone: corticosterone ratio when compared with zona fasciculata cells. Adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) stimulated corticosterone output by all cell pools prepared by unit gravity (1 g) sedimentation, zona fasciculata cells being stimulated 130-fold compared with 20-fold for the zona reticularis cells in relation to their basal corticosterone output. In every cell pool, ACTH stimulated the output of corticosterone more than it stimulated the output of deoxycorticosterone. In parallel cell preparations, it was shown that ACTH increased the conversion of tracer amounts of radioactive deoxycorticosterone to corticosterone and decreased the conversion of radioactive corticosterone to 11-dehydrocorticosterone. Adrenocorticotrophin did not increase the conversion of radioactive deoxycorticosterone to total 11-oxygenated steroids (corticosterone+ 11-dehydrocorticosterone). It is unlikely therefore that ACTH stimulates 11 β-hydroxylation. Data indicate that the ratio of deoxycorticosterone to total 11-oxygenated steroids (corticosterone +11-dehydrocorticosterone) is characteristic for each cell type, and that this ratio will be relatively independent of ACTH stimulation or the amount of pregnenolone substrate available. Basal androstenedione outputs were similar for both types of cell, and ACTH stimulation was very small, being slightly greater for zona fasciculata than for zona reticularis cells. The contribution of the zona reticularis cells to the basal output of any steroid by the cells of the inner two zones of the adrenal cortex of the rat was relatively small (20% for deoxycorticosterone and 10% for corticosterone) and was even less after stimulation by ACTH. Unless a specific stimulus can be found, therefore, a significant role for the zona reticularis cannot yet be established.

SUMMARY The neutral steroids derived from their conjugates present in a pool of bile from 20 human foetuses were analysed by gas—liquid chromatography and gas chromatography— mass spectrometry. Ten monosulphates, twelve disulphates and seven glucuronides were detected, but no free steroids were found. Both saturated and unsaturated steroids of the C19- and C21-series were detected. The glucuronides of 5β-pregnane-3α,20α-diol, 5α-pregnane-3β,16α,20α-triol and 3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one as well as the monosulphate of 16α-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone were present in the highest concentrations. Other major components were the monosulphates of dehydroepiandrosterone, pregnenolone and 16α-hydroxypregnenolone and the disulphates of 5-androstene-3β,17α-diol, 3β, 17β-dihydroxy-5-androsten-16-one and 5β-prenane-3ξ,20α,21-triol. The total concentration of the monosulphate conjugates was 435 μg/100 g sample (wet weight), of the disulphates 363 μg/100 g and of the glucuronides 815 μg/100 g. Many of the compounds detected have previously been found in the foetal liver and intestinal contents. It is therefore concluded that during early and mid-gestation the foetal liver is already excreting many steroid conjugates through the biliary tract into the intestinal canal. As in other foetal compartments, considerable amounts of steroid sulphates were detected. However, the presence of steroid glucuronides in the bile suggests that the formation of hepatic glucuronides already occurs during the foetal period.

SUMMARY Homogenates of cerebral metastatic chorionepithelioma tissue were incubated with labelled dehydroepiandrosterone, pregnenolone or 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one. The metabolites of dehydroepiandrosterone which were isolated and identified were androstenedione, testosterone, oestrone and oestradiol; no oestriol was detected. The only metabolite of pregnenolone and 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one isolated and identified was progesterone. No conversion of C-21 to C-19 steroids occurred in the metastatic chorionepithelioma tissue.

A fourfold increase in the concentration of rat zona glomerulosa cells incubated in Krebs–Ringer bicarbonate buffer (KRBGA) increased aldosterone production per cell twofold. This cell concentration associated (CCA) increase in aldosterone production showed a dose–response relationship with the number of cells per incubation and was further increased in modified Medium 199, compared with KRBGA. The combination of a fourfold increase in cell concentration with each of maximally steroidogenic concentrations of K+, angiotensin II, ACTH, 5-hydroxytryptamine or cyclic AMP produced an increase in aldosterone production greater than that predicted from the algebraic sum of the steroidogenic effects of the factors acting separately. The CCA increase in basal aldosterone production was maximal during the first 30 min of incubation, could not be accounted for by accumulation of corticosterone in the incubation medium and was largely or completely abolished by the addition of pregnenolone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone or corticosterone to the incubation medium. Together, these data support the proposal that the CCA effect was due to a novel aldosterone-stimulating factor which increased aldosterone production by stimulating pregnenolone formation. The aldosterone and corticosterone responses to exogenous pregnenolone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone demonstrated that aldosterone and corticosterone production by zona glomerulosa cells in vitro may represent separate biosynthetic pathways. Furthermore, these studies provided evidence for a mechanism by which increased levels of exogenous pregnenolone, progesterone and deoxycorticosterone were able to increase their per cent conversion to aldosterone, but not to corticosterone.

SUMMARY Maternal plasma progesterone levels in sheep may fall dramatically during the last few days of gestation and following the administration of glucocorticoids to the foetus. To investigate the mechanism of the fall, metabolism of [3H]pregnenolone and/or [3H]progesterone in vitro by ovine placental tissue was studied in five ewes before and after intra-foetal administration of dexamethasone in a dosage sufficient to induce parturition, and in one ewe after the spontaneous onset of labour at 143 days of gestation. Manual separation of maternal and foetal placental tissues showed that, in 11 out of 12 cases, the foetal and not the maternal placenta produced progesterone from pregnenolone in vitro. Total activities of cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the foetal placenta were not influenced by intra-foetal dexamethasone. Before administration of dexamethasone, homogenates of foetal placenta converted [3H]progesterone to 20α-hydroxy [3H]pregn-4-en3-one in the presence of NADPH. Within 12 h of administration of dexamethasone, and after the natural onset of labour at 143 days, large amounts of 17α,20α-dihydroxy[3H]pregn4-en-3-one were formed from [3H]progesterone. Intra-foetal dexamethasone treatment also induced the formation of 17α,20α-dihydroxy[3H]pregn-4-en-3-one by minced foetal placental tissue incubated with [3H]pregnenolone. This change in steroid metabolism did not occur in foetal placental tissue from a sham-operated animal receiving no dexamethasone. Assay of progesterone in foetal placentae showed that the increased formation of 17α,20αdihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one was unlikely to be caused by a change in the specific activity of added 3H-labelled precursor, although the production of 17α,20α-dihydroxypregn-4-en3-one in vitro increased at a time when both foetal placental and utero-ovarian venous levels of progesterone were decreasing in response to dexamethasone treatment. These observations indicate that intra-foetal dexamethasone treatment induces a placental 17α-hydroxylase enzyme, which is also present in foetal placental tissue after the spontaneous onset of labour at term.

Binding of piscine and mammalian gonadotrophin to plasma membranes from the ovaries of a fish, the murrel (Channa punctatus), clearly suggests that the fish ovary possesses distinct and specific binding sites for both piscine and mammalian gonadotrophins. Maximum specific binding of 125I-labelled human chorionic gonadotrophin (125I-hCG) and 125I-labelled silver carp gonadotrophin (125I-scG) was obtained at 30 °C and pH 7·5 during 2 h of incubation. In competitive binding studies, binding of radiolabelled scG was effectively inhibited by piscine gonadotrophins while LH and hCG had less effect and FSH showed no inhibition. By using plasma membrane preparations from kidney, skeletal muscle, brain and ovary it could be shown that specific binding of radiolabelled gonadotrophins was restricted to ovarian tissue. Binding characteristics of both 125I-scG and 125I-hCG to a preparation of murrel ovarian plasma membranes showed saturability with high affinity and low capacity. Scatchard plot analysis gave a higher dissociation constant for hCG (Kd = 235 pmol/l) than for scG (Kd= 127 pmol/l). Maximum binding capacity of scG was about twofold higher (6·27 fmol/mg protein) than that of hCG (3·76 fmol/mg protein). An increase in gonadotrophin binding resulted in a greater formation of pregnenolone from cholesterol, indicating functional relevance. At a concentration of 8 mmol/l, Ca2+ markedly inhibited the binding of gonadotrophin. The physiological importance of this inhibition is discussed. J. Endocr. (1986) 111, 407–413

After the addition of charcoal-treated testicular fluid to Leydig cells isolated from 22-day-old rats, pregnenolone production could be increased to a maximum of tenfold within 30 min in a dose-dependent manner. Testicular fluid, but not serum, further increased pregnenolone formation threefold when pregnenolone production by Leydig cells was stimulated by the addition of LH-releasing hormone (fourfold), LH (25-fold) and 22R-hydroxycholesterol (300-fold). The effect of testicular fluid on steroid production in the presence of 22R-hydroxycholesterol was not inhibited by cycloheximide whereas cycloheximide completely inhibited the effect of LH. It appears unlikely that steroids, lipoproteins or other plasma components constitute the stimulatory agents in testicular fluid. The biologically active principles may be locally produced factors with a molecular weight > 25 000. Similar biological activities could be shown in testicular lymph from boars but not in systemic lymph from boars nor in charcoal-treated bovine follicular fluid. The presumably locally produced factor(s) may amplify the effect of LH and can thus act as a local modulator(s). J. Endocr. (1986) 109, 111–117

SUMMARY The levels of pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), androstenedione, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), oestrone, oestradiol, cortisol and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured in the peripheral plasma of a group of young, apparently healthy males before and after masturbation. The same steroids were also determined in a control study, in which the psychological anticipation of masturbation was encouraged, but the physical act was not carried out. The plasma levels of all steroids were significantly increased after masturbation, whereas steroid levels remained unchanged in the control study. The most marked changes after masturbation were observed in pregnenolone and DHA levels. No alterations were observed in the plasma levels of LH. Both before and after masturbation plasma levels of testosterone were significantly correlated to those of DHT and oestradiol, but not to those of the other steroids studied. On the other hand, cortisol levels were significantly correlated to those of pregnenolone, DHA, androstenedione and oestrone. In the same subjects, the levels of pregnenolone, DHA, androstenedione, testosterone and DHT in seminal plasma were also estimated; they were all significantly correlated to the levels of the corresponding steroid in the systemic blood withdrawn both before and after masturbation. As a practical consequence, the results indicate that whenever both blood and semen are analysed, blood sampling must precede semen collection.

The effects of pure FSH and/or LH preparations on the number of Leydig cells and their function in immature hypophysectomized rats have been investigated. As a result of hypophysectomy at the age of 17–18 days, the number of recognizable Leydig cells per testis decreased, as did the steroidogenic capacity in vivo and in vitro. Treatment with 64 μg FSH on both 22 and 23 days of age, did not affect the number of recognizable Leydig cells. In contrast, two injections of LH (10 μg) caused a sixfold increase in the number of Leydig cells, but had a negative effect on spermatogenesis. These stimulatory and inhibitory effects of LH diminished when FSH was added. Treatment with FSH for 7 days caused a twofold increase in the number of Leydig cells when compared with hypophysectomized controls. 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and esterase activity in Leydig cells also increased under the influence of FSH. The pregnenolone production per Leydig cell in the presence of 5-cholesten-3β,22(R)-diol (22R-hydroxycholesterol) as substrate showed a sevenfold increase. Plasma testosterone levels 2 h after injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin in intact rats and hypophysectomized FSH-treated rats were the same. Following LH treatment for 7 days, the number of Leydig cells proved to be 11 times higher, and 3β-HSD and esterase activity were not different from intact controls. The testicular pregnenolone production was four- to fivefold higher when compared with untreated hypophysectomized rats. However, pregnenolone production per Leydig cell in LH-treated rats was only slightly different from the hypophysectomized controls. In conclusion, FSH treatment caused an increase in the number and steroidogenic activity of Leydig cells, and LH had a major effect on the number of Leydig cells, but did not stimulate the steroidogenic capacity. Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 120, 97–106

The postulated prolonged stimulatory influence of ACTH on the adrenocortical mitochondrial synthesis of pregnenolone in response to ACTH was studied in adrenal mitochondria isolated from control guinea-pigs and from animals treated s.c. with 100 μg ACTH(1–24) twice daily on the day before the animals were killed. The animals from both groups were injected with 100 μg ACTH s.c. 30 min before killing. The mitochondrial production of pregnenolone (expressed in nmol per mg mitochondrial protein after 10-min incubation) increased from 1·52 ± 0·46 (s.e.m.) in the control group to 4·50 ± 0·59 for mitochondria from ACTH-treated animals, despite a similar free cholesterol content in the mitochondria, even when determined after a previous in-vivo treatment with aminoglutethimide to block further metabolism of cholesterol into pregnenolone. In addition, in the presence of an excess of exogenous cholesterol (100 μmol/l), the production of pregnenolone remained higher for mitochondria from ACTH-treated animals. In contrast, when the calcium concentration in the incubation medium was raised to 1 mmol/l, with subsequent enhancement in pregnenolone synthesis, the mitochondrial pregnenolone production became similar for both groups (8·28 ± 1·11 nmol in the ACTH-treated group and 9·55 ± 1·90 nmol in the control group), even in the presence of 100 μmol cholesterol/l (13·5 ±1·80 nmol in ACTH-treated animals and 14·8 ± 1·93 nmol in controls). Cycloheximide treatment administered on the day before the animals were killed was without any effect on pregnenolone production in control animals (3·51 ± 0·43 nmol before and 3·65 ± 0·63 nmol after cycloheximide treatment). In contrast, the pregnenolone production by mitochondria from ACTH-treated guinea-pigs injected with cycloheximide was reduced to a level similar to that observed in the control group (5·82± 0·23 nmol in the absence and 3·09± 0·32nmol in the presence of cycloheximide treatment). The results of the present study suggest that the prolonged stimulatory effect of ACTH on pregnenolone production involves an increase in the synthesis of a protein factor which promotes the availability of cholesterol to the side-chain cleavage system. Other mechanisms such as a stimulated synthesis of the side-chain cleavage complex itself or an increased total mitochondrial cholesterol content are not supported by our data. J. Endocr. (1986) 108, 377–384

LH-dependent steroid production by isolated rat Leydig cells is fourfold stimulated by the addition of charcoal–stripped rat testicular fluid. Fetal calf serum and bovine follicular fluid have similar stimulatory effects. In contrast, rat and bovine serum suppress steroid production in the presence of LH in a dose–dependent manner. The results show that stimulatory and inhibitory factors can modulate Leydig cell steroidogenesis and these factors appear not to be organ or species specific.

SUMMARY Evidence that steroids enter rete testis fluid (RTF) from the blood at varying rates was obtained during i.v. infusions into rats. Testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone were readily transferred into the fluid, whereas cholesterol was excluded. Between these extremes, the appearance of radioactivity in the RTF suggested the following order of entry rate: progesterone > pregnenolone > 5α-reduced androgens > oestrogens > corticosteroids. Preliminary identification of metabolites in RTF and blood suggested that testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone were transferred largely unchanged. Androstenedione and progesterone, however, were largely metabolized during transfer into the RTF, the former being transformed to testosterone. The results are used to discuss the nature of the blood-testis barrier to steroids and the source of androgens in the RTF.

Phospholipase C and 1,2-diacylglycerol lipase activities were demonstrated in human endometrium using 1-stearoyl-2-[1-14C]arachidonyl phosphatidylinositol as substrate. Phosphatidylinositol is hydrolysed by phospholipase C to inositol phosphates and to 1,2-diacylglycerol which is then further metabolized by 1,2-diacylglycerol lipase to release free arachidonic acid. In the present study the radiolabelled products formed (1,2-diacylglycerol and arachidonic acid) were measured following chloroform/methanol extraction and thin-layer chromatography. Phospholipase C activity was calcium dependent and optimal at pH 5·0–5·5 and 7·5; 1,2-diacylglycerol lipase activity was also calcium dependent, with an optimum pH of 5·5. A significant increase in 1,2-diacylglycerol production was stimulated by steroid sulphates. Pregnenolone sulphate, oestrone sulphate, testosterone sulphate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate stimulated 4, 3·2-1·8- and 2·6-fold increases in release respectively. Oestradiol sulphate stimulated a 25% increase in diacylglycerol release which was not significantly different from the control value. Progesterone stimulated a fourfold increase but other free steroids had no effect. Arachidonic acid release was increased in the presence of oestradiol sulphate, oestrone and oestradiol but reduced by oestrone sulphate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and, to a lesser extent, by pregnenolone sulphate and testosterone sulphate. 5-Androstene-3β, 17β-diol had no effect on the liberation of either product. This study demonstrates a potential route for the liberation of arachidonic acid from phosphatidylinositol in human endometrium. The opposing effects of steroids on phospholipase C and 1,2-diacylglycerol lipase activity could be important in regulating the release of arachidonic acid by this pathway. J. Endocr. (1988) 117, 309–314

SUMMARY Adrenocortical cells obtained from adult rats were propagated in monolayer culture. Depending on culture conditions, they grew either as lipid-containing epithelial-like cells with a high level of steroid production, or as fibroblast-like cells with a low level of steroid production. The major fluorogenic steroid secreted by both morphologic forms of adrenal cortical cell was corticosterone as determined by chromatography and acid fluorometry. Basal fluorogenic steroid production per 106 cells over 24 h was: epithelial-like cells, 5·0 μg; fibroblast-like cells, 0·014 μg. Stimulation with ACTH for 5 days increased fluorogenic steroid production and induced morphologic changes in both adrenal cell forms. ACTH stimulation of fluorogenic steroid production by both cell forms reached a maximum after 3 days, then dropped to a refractory state after 5 days. With maximal ACTH stimulation, production increased 25-fold in fibroblast-like cells and five-fold in epithelial-like cells. The latter rate of corticosterone production is similar, per cell, to ACTH-stimulated adrenal glands in vivo. Progressive morphologic changes were observed with ACTH stimulation: epithelial-like cells retracted from the substratum and lost lipid inclusions; fibroblast-like cells became more epithelial-like. Both adrenal cell types formed intermediates from [4-14C]pregnenolone including pregn-5-ene-3β,20α-diol and 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one. Control cultures of muscle fascia fibroblasts did not produce corticosterone or intermediates from [4-14C]pregnenolone and did not respond to ACTH functionally or morphologically.

SUMMARY The synthesis of steroids from [7α-3H]cholesterol, [7α-3H]pregnenolone and [7α-3H]progesterone by lizard and turtle ovarian tissues in vitro was studied. Progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, oestrone and oestradiol were identified as products. In the turtle (Pseudemys), conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone was efficient, but transformation of progesterone to other steroids was relatively slow as indicated by the accumulation of progesterone over the incubation period. In Dipsosaurus, accumulation of radioactivity was greatest in testosterone, the quantities of which continued to increase at each sampling period. The rate of utilization of pregnenolone as a substrate was similar for the two species studied and the quantities of oestrone and oestradiol formed were lower in Pseudemys. The use of progesterone as precursor by Dipsosaurus ovarian tissue revealed a similar pattern of Δ4-steroid metabolism to that obtained with pregnenolone as precursor. The effects of addition of purified follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) on the metabolism of [14C]cholesterol in vitro was studied using Pseudemys follicular tissue. The pattern of cholesterol metabolism was similar to that for pregnenolone in this species. The synthesis of pregnenolone, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione in vitro was significantly enhanced in the presence of LH. Follicle-stimulating hormone had no effect on steroid synthesis except for a decrease of androstenedione formation. The stimulatory effect of LH on steroidogenesis in vitro is discussed in relation to the literature suggesting that mammalian FSH, but not LH, stimulates all phases of reptilian ovarian function when injected in vivo.

SUMMARY [14C]Acetate was incorporated into dehydroepiandrosterone, pregnenolone and their sulphates and into cholesterol during incubations of adrenal tissue from three human foetuses of 10–18 weeks of gestation. No incorporation of [14C]acetate into cortisol or other 4-en-3-oxo steroids could be demonstrated. Porcine ACTH stimulated the incorporation of [14C]acetate into both dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and cholesterol when added to incubations of adrenal tissue from foetuses of 18 weeks gestation. Such an effect was not observed with tissue from a 10-week-old foetus. Stimulation of steroid biosynthesis from [14C]acetate was also achieved by addition of human growth hormone or human chorionic somato-mammotrophin. These trophic hormones may therefore play some part in regulating the provision of precursors for oestrogen biosynthesis in pregnancy.

SUMMARY An in-situ continuous infusion technique was used to study the biogenesis of androgens and cortisol in the guinea-pig adrenal gland after the infusion of 3H- and 14C-labelled precursors of these compounds. Pregnenolone was converted to 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and cortisol. The results of infusion of a combined dose of [3H]17α-hydroxypregnenolone and [14C]progesterone indicated that the major pathway to cortisol is via 17α-hydroxypregnenolone. No conclusive proof could be obtained regarding synthesis of dehydroepiandrosterone or androst-4-ene-3,17-dione. The only androgen detected in the guinea-pig adrenal venous blood was 11β-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione. The major and minor biosynthetic pathways involved in the synthesis of these hormones are discussed.

SUMMARY Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulated synthesis of both progesterone and 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one by rabbit ovarian tissue in vitro. Progesterone synthesis was stimulated by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), but 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one production was only slightly affected by NADP compared with the effect of LH. When NADP was added with glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) or 6-phospho-gluconate (6-P-G), no apparent stimulation of progestational steroid synthesis occurred. Specific activity measurements suggested that stimulation of synthesis was masked by increased conversion of progestational steroids to other products. When NADP and submaximal concentrations of LH were used together, potentiation rather than addition of effects on progesterone synthesis was found, and addition of effects with supramaximal concentrations of LH. No potentiation was found when NADP was replaced by NADP and G-6-P or 6-P-G, or by NADPH2. NADP, unlike LH, caused striking stimulation of progesterone synthesis by separated corpora lutea. It is suggested that the present results provide further support for the view that the actions of LH and NADP are related.

SUMMARY The ability of cells from the zona fasciculata and the zona reticularis of the human adrenal cortex to transform labelled pregnenolone and progesterone to cortisol in vitro was investigated. Examination of the 3H:14C ratios of 16α-hydroxyprogesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone and cortisol formed during incubations in vitro suggested that the role of progesterone in the transformation of pregnenolone to cortisol might be a relatively minor one. An attempt was subsequently made to estimate the relative importance of the biosynthetic pathway to cortisol by way of progesterone in hyperplastic adrenal tissue by a mathematical approach.

SUMMARY The formation of corticosteroids from [14C]pregnenolone or [14C]progesterone by platypus and echidna adrenal homogenates was studied. Corticosteroids were assayed in the peripheral blood plasma of the platypus. In the platypus nine labelled conversion products were identified. The combined yields of cortisol and cortisone averaged 70% and the combined yields of corticosterone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone averaged 14%. Aldosterone was identified in each experiment in yields below 0·1%. In the echidna ten labelled conversion products were identified. Those in highest yield were 11-deoxycorticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol which contained, respectively, an average of 35 and 11% of the added substrate. The yield of corticosterone was always less than 1% and that of cortisol was consistently lower. Aldosterone was identified in all cases in yields below 0·05%. The yields of total 11β-hydroxylated conversion products from platypus adrenal exceeded 80%, whereas they were below 1% from glands of male echidnas and 7% from female echidna. The yield—time curves for labelled conversion products from [14C]-pregnenolone indicated that the biosynthetic pathways of corticosteroid production by the monotreme adrenal are similar to those in eutherian mammals. From stored endogenous precursors of a platypus adrenal incubated for 30 min, corticosteroids were formed in the following amounts (per 100 mg adrenal): cortisone, 5·1 μg; cortisol, 1·3 μg; 11-dehydrocorticosterone, 1·5 μg. In the peripheral plasma of platypus the concentration of combined cortisol and cortisone was 14 μg/100ml and the combined corticosterone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone was 1·8 μg. The mean ratio of adrenal weight (mg) to body weight (kg) was 39·5 in the echidna and 257 in the platypus. The marked contrast in adrenocortical biosynthetic capacity of the two monotremes is discussed and a comparison of the results is made in relation to higher mammals.