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Inhibitory action of melatonin and structurally related compounds on testosterone production by mouse leydig cells in vitro
Author(s) -
Persengiev S.,
Kehajova J.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
cell biochemistry and function
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1099-0844
pISSN - 0263-6484
DOI - 10.1002/cbf.290090410
Subject(s) - melatonin , testosterone (patch) , medicine , in vitro , endocrinology , potency , leydig cell , chemistry , pineal gland , biology , biochemistry , hormone , luteinizing hormone
The possible effect of melatinin, 5‐methoxytryptamine, 5‐methoxytryptophol, 6‐chloromelatonin and 2‐iodomelatonin on testosterone production by Leydig cells in vitro was investigated. The ability of individual indoles to inhibit testosterone production was found to depend on the concentration used. The relative inhibitory potency of the compounds tested was: 6‐chloromelationin > 2‐iodomelatonin > melatonin > 5‐methoxytryptamine > 5‐methoxytryptophol. The results revealed that natural indoles which are synthesized in the pineal gland and their halogenized derivatives are capable of influencing directly testosterone production by Leydig cells. Also, these results demonstrated that melatonin exerts its remarkable antigonadotrophic effects, at least in part, through the direct decrease of testosterone production. Moreover, 6‐chloromelationin and 2‐iodomelatonin, which are reported to inhibit melatonin binding to target tissues, possess properties of biological melatonin analogues under the conditions of the model system used.