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Catecholamines inhibit steroidogenesis by cultured porcine thecal cells
Author(s) -
Morley Paul,
Calaresu Franco R.,
Armstrong David T.
Publication year - 1990
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(90)81441-p
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , androstenedione , theca , chemistry , pregnenolone , luteinizing hormone , antagonist , androgen , receptor , adrenergic receptor , steroid hormone , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , adrenergic , hormone , biology , steroid
The ovaries of many species contain catecholamines and β‐adrenergic receptors. The present studies were done to determine if catecholamines play a role in the regulation of androgen production by porcine theca cells. Basal and luteinizing hormone (LH)‐stimulated androstenedione production was significantly inhibited by noradrenaline and isoproterenol. The inhibitory effects were dose‐dependent and were enhanced when the cultures contained the carboxy‐ O ‐methyl transferase inhibitor, U‐0521. The inhibitory effect of isoproterenol was reversed by the β‐adrenergic antagonist, metoprolol. Isoproterenol caused a generalized inhibition of LH‐stimulated steroidogenesis, decreasing the accumulation of pregnenolone, progesterone, androstenedione and estradiol in the culture medium. These studies suggest that catecholamines may be important regulators of thecal androgen production.