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The influence of heparin on LH‐ and dibutyryl‐cAMP‐stimulated testosterone production in vitro by adult rat testes
Author(s) -
Fox Stuart I.,
Wisner James R.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(79)80181-7
Subject(s) - reprint , citation , medicine , chemistry , library science , physics , computer science , astronomy
In addition to the anti-coagulant and anti-lipemic effects of heparin [ 121, this sulfated mucopolysaccharide has been shown to inhibit certain gonadal enzymes involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis. A relatively specific ~hibi~on of testicular S4-Satreductase as we11 as a comparatively weaker addition of C1,--t&, lyase and ~7~-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities, was reported f3] when ~mature rat testes were incubated in vitro in the presence of heparin. Heparin inhibition of LHsensitive adenylate cyclase has been demonstrated [4] in ovarian membrane fractions prepared from PMSG-treated rats. Since interaction of LH with specific ovarian and testicular membrane receptors and subsequent stimulation of membrane-associated adenylate cyclase represents an early and apparently obligatory event in LH-stim~ated gonadal steroid hormone biosynthesis 15-71, the demonstration that heparin inhibits ovarian LH-sensitive adenylate cyclase [4] suggests that heparin may inhibit gonadal LH-stimulated hormone production. In an effort to test this postulate, we studied the effects of heparin on LH&mulated testosterone production in vitro by adult rat testes. Also examined were the possible effects of heparin on testosterone production in vitro by rat testes incubated