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Ethanol Modulates the Hormone Secretory Responses Induced by Epidermal Growth Factor in Choriocarcinoma Cells
Author(s) -
Wimalasena Jay,
Beams Faith,
Caudle Michael R.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1994.tb01449.x
Subject(s) - epidermal growth factor , endocrinology , medicine , secretion , human chorionic gonadotropin , choriocarcinoma , hormone , trophoblast , gonadotropin , in vivo , chemistry , placenta , biology , growth factor , receptor , fetus , pregnancy , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology
Analysis of clinical data has implicated ethanol (EtOH) as an embryotoxic agent and as an agent that disrupts normal placental structure and function. Because epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an important regulator of placental function, we have studied the effects of EtOH on EGF‐induced hormone secretion using JEG‐3 choriocarcinoma cells that serve as a model for trophoblast cells. EtOH at physiological (5‐100 m m ) concentrations modulated effects of EGF in a time and dose‐dependent manner. EGF‐induced P 4 secretion was increased by 20–100 mM EtOH after a 2‐day pretreatment of cells with EtOH, but not after a 6‐day pretreatment. Preincubation with 50 mM EtOH doubled the P 4 responses to 50 and 100 ng/ml EGF. Although a 2‐ or 4‐day preincubation of cells with 10–50 mM EtOH increased the secretion of E 2 in response to 20 ng/ml EGF, a 6‐day preincubation inhibited the secretory response to EGF. Pretreatment of cells with 10–50 m m , but not 100 m m EtOH for 2 to 6 days enhanced the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secretory response to EGF. At 50 mm EtOH, the secretion of hCG in response to EGF was increased 2‐fold. EtOH also increased basal hCG secretion in a dose‐dependent manner between 10–50 m m EtOH. These results suggest that EtOH may modulate EGF‐stimulated hormone secretion from cells of placental origin. Such alterations, if they occur in vivo, may impact on the function of the placenta and could potentially explain the pathophysiology of alcohol toxicity during pregnancy.