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Query: EC:4.6.1.1 (
adenylate cyclase
)
19,190
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
Rat GH-releasing hormone (GHRH), mainly contained in hypothalamic neurons, has also been identified in several extraneural tissues, including the gastrointestinal tract, placenta, ovary, and testis. In the testis, GHRH mRNA is ontogenically regulated, and GHRH immunoreactivity can be observed in interstitial cells and tubules, suggesting an intratesticular role for the peptide. Leydig cells in culture are able to produce hypothalamic releasing hormones, i.e. CRH, which acts as an autocrine negative regulator of
Leydig cell
function. In this study we investigated whether GHRH is present in Leydig cells and evaluated the role of the peptide in
Leydig cell
function. Adult Leydig cells in culture produced considerable amounts of immunoreactive GHRH [23.9 +/- 2.1 (+/- SE) pg/10(6) cells.30 min], and the release of the peptide was acutely stimulated by hCG. HPLC analysis of GHRH in media from basal and hCG-treated cultures showed the presence of a single peak eluting at the same retention time as that of hypothalamic rat GHRH. Radioligand binding and activation studies revealed a common receptor for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and rat GHRH in
Leydig cell
membrane. Specific binding of [125I]VIP to
Leydig cell
membranes showed the presence of a single site, with high affinity and low binding capacity. The relative potencies of VIP-related peptides for inhibition of radioligand binding were: VIP > rat GHRH > secretin > human GHRH. In cultured Leydig cells, GHRH and VIP stimulated cAMP production, consistent with coupling of the receptor to the
adenylate cyclase
system. VIP displayed a lower ED50 than GHRH in stimulating cAMP production (P < 0.01), comparable with the higher binding potency of this peptide. No additive effects of VIP- and GHRH-stimulated cAMP generation were observed, suggesting that both peptides compete for the same receptor protein. GHRH and VIP had no effect on basal steroidogenesis, indicating a lack of tonic actions and compartmentalization of the peptides' effect. On the other hand, GHRH acted as a potentiator of the acute gonadotropin stimulation of testosterone production and cAMP generation. [125I]hCG binding to the Leydig cells in culture showed that GHRH was unable to affect the number or affinity of binding sites for hCG, indicating that the GHRH-sensitizing effect on LH action is beyond the level of gonadotropin binding and possibly is through the facilitation of LH receptor coupling functions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Growth hormone-releasing hormone is produced by rat Leydig cell in culture and acts as a positive regulator of Leydig cell function. 133 49
The direct effects of estradiol-17 beta (E2), diethylstilbestrol (DES) and tamoxifen on testicular testosterone production by purified immature pig Leydig cells in vitro were studied. Leydig cells were obtained from 3-4 weeks old piglet testes by enzymatical dispersion followed by discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation. Leydig cells were treated with E2, DES, and tamoxifen in the absence or presence of LH after 12 h of incubation. Media were collected 48 h later for testosterone and cAMP measurement. E2 did not affect basal testosterone production. When Leydig cells were incubated with increasing concentrations (0.001-10.0 micrograms/ml) of E2, DES, or tamoxifen for 48 h, LH-stimulated testosterone production was reduced. The degree of this reduction was dependent on E2, DES, and tamoxifen, and a concentration of E2 and DES and tamoxifen higher than 100 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml was needed, respectively. DES and tamoxifen also reduced LH-stimulated cAMP formation. When equal concentrations of DES and tamoxifen were added concomitantly to Leydig cells, the inhibition was additive, indicating that tamoxifen does not prevent the inhibitory effects of DES. Forskolin, an activator of
adenylate cyclase
, stimulated testosterone production to an extent comparable to that attained with LH, and DES and tamoxifen reduced forskolin-stimulated testosterone production. DES and tamoxifen suppressed the conversion of exogenous pregnenolone and progesterone to testosterone, but did not affect the conversion of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone to testosterone, suggesting a specific inhibition of 17 alpha-hydroxylase. These results suggest that E2, DES, and tamoxifen directly inhibit immature pig
Leydig cell
steroidogenesis, at least in part via an inhibition of cAMP formation and a decrease in the activity of 17 alpha-hydroxylase.
...
PMID:In vitro effects of estradiol, diethylstilbestrol and tamoxifen on testosterone production by purified pig Leydig cells. 166 95
We have recently demonstrated the presence in the rat Leydig cells of a corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) receptor and an inhibitory action of the peptide on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-induced cAMP generation and steroidogenesis. The inhibitory action of CRF was unaffected by pertussis toxin and was completely reversed by 8-bromo-cAMP (Ulisse, S., Fabbri, A., and Dufau, M. L. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 2156-2163). In this study, we have evaluated the participation of protein kinase C in CRF action in the Leydig cells and the level of the gonadotropin signal pathway affected by CRF. Binding of 125I-labeled ovine CRF to
Leydig cell
membranes was reduced by GTP and guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p), in a dose-dependent manner. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, like CRF, caused time-dependent inhibition of hCG-induced cAMP generation and steroidogenesis. This inhibitory action was reversed by 8-bromo-cAMP. Both CRF and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate did not affect 125I-hCG binding. No additive effects of CRF and the phorbol ester were observed in these studies. CRF caused a rapid translocation of protein kinase C in Leydig cells. Preincubation of cells with protein kinase C inhibitors or TPA-induced depletion of protein kinase C prevented the inhibitory actions of CRF and TPA. CRF and TPA were able to inhibit the stimulation of cAMP and testosterone production by cholera toxin and forskolin. Adenylate cyclase stimulation by Gpp(NH)p, luteinizing hormone + Gpp(NH)p, and NaF in crude membranes or by forskolin and manganese in solubilized membranes, prepared from CRF- and TPA-treated cells, was also markedly inhibited. We conclude that CRF receptors interact with a pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein (possibly Gp) in the
Leydig cell
and that the inhibitory action of CRF on
Leydig cell
function is exerted mainly on the catalytic subunit of
adenylate cyclase
through a direct or indirect action of protein kinase C.
...
PMID:A novel mechanism of action of corticotropin releasing factor in rat Leydig cells. 215 73
In addition to well known direct stimulatory and potentiatory actions of forskolin, we have previously reported that low doses of this diterpene (10(-9), 10(-12) M) markedly inhibit the production of cAMP and testosterone in rat Leydig cells through a pertussis toxin sensitive G-protein (A. Khanum and M. L. Dufau, J. Biol. Chem. 261, 1986). A different type of inhibitory effect of forskolin is described in this study. Forskolin (10(-5) M) markedly stimulates basal
adenylate cyclase
activity (about 200%) in rat
Leydig cell
membranes and potentiates the stimulatory effect of gonadotropin (10(-9), 10(-7) M) on
adenylate cyclase
in presence or in absence of GTP (10(-5) M). Similarly a time-dependent stimulation of forskolin (10(-5) M) alone is noted on all cAMP pools and testosterone production. Using a supramaximal steroidogenic dose of hCG (0.26 nM) or choleragen (0.1 microM), forskolin potentiates the gonadotrophin and toxin-induced responses of all cAMP pools significantly while inhibiting testosterone production. Moreover, forskolin also inhibits 8-Bromo-cAMP stimulated steroidogenesis. In contrast, pregnenolone synthesis was not altered by the diterpene. We have demonstrated in this study that the inhibitory effect of high doses of forskolin on steroidogenesis is distal to cAMP generation, and resulted from a steroidogenic block residing beyond pregnenolone synthesis.
...
PMID:A cAMP independent inhibitory action of high doses of forskolin in rat Leydig cells. 217 27
Serum-free primary cultures of neonatal (1-day-old) porcine Leydig cells were used to study the effects of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate and 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol on testosterone and pregnenolone production. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate alone from 0.001-10 mumol/l stimulated testosterone and pregnenolone production, whereas 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol alone had no effect on steroid production, relative to control. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate and 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol each inhibited pLH-stimulated testosterone and pregnenolone production. To further clarify the influence of these protein kinase C activators on steroidogenesis, cultured Leydig cells were treated with either phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate or 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol plus forskolin (an
adenylate cyclase
activator). Both phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate and 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol inhibited forskolin-stimulated testosterone production. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate had no effect on forskolin-stimulated pregnenolone production and only the highest concentration of 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol (100 mumol/l) inhibited forskolin-stimulated production of pregnenolone. These data demonstrate that porcine
Leydig cell
steroidogenesis can be modulated by interactions of the protein kinase C and protein kinase A second messenger systems.
...
PMID:In vitro modulation of porcine Leydig cell steroidogenesis by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate and 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol. 230 1
Rat Leydig cells possess functional high affinity receptors for corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). CRF inhibited human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-induced androgen production in cultured fetal and adult Leydig cells in a dose-dependent manner, but it had no effect on basal testosterone secretion. Comparable inhibitory effects of CRF were observed in the presence or absence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. CRF treatment caused a marked reduction of steroid precursors of the androgen pathway (from pregnenolone to testosterone) during gonadotropin stimulation, but it did not influence their basal levels. The inhibitory action of CRF on hCG-induced steroidogenesis was fully reversed by 8-bromo-cAMP but was not affected by pertussis toxin. The action of CRF was rapid; and it was blocked by coincubation with anti-CRF antibody. CRF caused no changes in hCG binding to Leydig cells, and in contrast to other target tissues, CRF did not stimulate cAMP production, indicating that CRF receptors are not coupled to Gs in Leydig cells. These studies have demonstrated that CRF-induced inhibition of the acute steroidogenic action of hCG is exerted at sites related to receptor/cyclase coupling or cAMP formation. The inhibitory effects of CRF in the
Leydig cell
do not occur through the Gi unit of
adenylate cyclase
, but could involve pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein(s). These observations demonstrate that CRF has a novel and potent antireproductive effect at the testicular level. Since CRF is synthesized in the testis and is present in Leydig cells, it is likely that locally produced CRF could exert negative autocrine modulation on the stimulatory action of luteinizing hormone on
Leydig cell
function.
...
PMID:Corticotropin-releasing factor receptors and actions in rat Leydig cells. 246 87
The three effects of mEGF on MA-10 Leydig tumor cells that have been discussed here are summarized in TABLE 7. The earliest effect of mEGF on MA-10 cells can be detected within 5 min of addition of mEGF and it lasts for about 60 min. During this time mEGF transiently attenuates hCG-stimulated
adenylate cyclase
activity. Although the magnitude of this effect is small, it can be correlated with a transient attenuation of the hCG-provoked increase in steroid synthesis. At longer times (i.e., 1-8 h) mEGF activates steroid synthesis by a "cAMP-independent pathway" and it potentiates (in a synergistic fashion) the activation of steroidogenesis by hCG, other compounds that activate
adenylate cyclase
activity, and cAMP analogues. At even longer times (i.e., 8-48 h) mEGF down-regulates the LH/CG receptors and by doing so, limits the steroidogenic response of the cells to hCG. From a biochemical point of view, our data provide an excellent example of those actions of growth factors that are unrelated to the control of cell multiplication, and of the complexity involved even when dealing with a single cell type and a single growth factor. Admittedly we know very little about the molecular basis of the phenomena described herein. Current work in our laboratory, however, is aimed at filling this gap. Among all the questions that we can address, we believe that it is particularly important to characterize the intracellular signaling system(s) activated by mEGF and to determine if a single signaling system is responsible for the diverse biological actions of mEGF in MA-10 cells. From a physiological point of view, our data may also prove important to the understanding of the regulation of testicular functions. There is increasing evidence for the production of EGF (or related peptides such as transforming growth factor alpha) in several tissues, including the testes and ovaries. These findings, together with the results summarized here suggest that EGF (or related peptides) act within the testes in a paracrine, or autocrine fashion and that they may have important modulatory effects on the activation of
Leydig cell
steroidogenesis by gonadotropins.
...
PMID:Regulation of the differentiated functions of Leydig tumor cells by epidermal growth factor. 254 37
delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive component in marihuana, is a reproductive toxicant in both man and animals. THC acts at both the level of the pituitary-hypothalamic axis and the testis, specifically the
Leydig cell
; an effect on the Sertoli cell has not been shown. Since THC inhibits cAMP accumulation in several cell types, we have examined the effect of THC on Sertoli cell function using altered cAMP accumulation as a marker of toxicity. THC reduced the FSH-induced accumulation of cAMP at concentrations which were neither cytotoxic nor affected cellular ATP levels. This inhibition was evident after 3 hr and did not affect the dose of FSH which gave half-maximal stimulation, suggesting that THC does not compete with FSH for binding to its receptor. The ability of THC to inhibit cAMP accumulation was not affected by incubation in the presence of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, making it unlikely that it acts via stimulation of phosphodiesterase activity. This THC-induced inhibition of Sertoli cell cAMP is specific for FSH; it does not affect the ability of forskolin, cholera toxin, isoproterenol, or prostaglandin E1 to stimulate Sertoli cell cAMP. Furthermore, inhibition occurs in the presence of pertussis toxin, suggesting that this effect of THC is independent of the inhibitory
adenylate cyclase
pathway. Inhibition of Sertoli cell cAMP also occurs with other cannabinoids which are present in marihuana, but which are not psychoactive. These data indicate that a part of the testicular toxicity of THC may be due to a specific alteration of the hormonal control of Sertoli cell function via an inhibition of FSH-stimulated cAMP accumulation.
...
PMID:Specific inhibition of FSH-stimulated cAMP accumulation by delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in cultures of rat Sertoli cells. 255 14
Gonadotropin binding to the adult
Leydig cell
activates a GTP binding protein that interacts with
adenylate cyclase
to increase cAMP production within the cell. The increased production of cAMP stimulates steroidogenesis and leads to an increase in testosterone production and secretion. The fetal
Leydig cell
responds to LH with an increase in cAMP and testosterone production as early as 15.5 days of gestation, although the specific mechanism of transmembrane signaling has not been characterized. Fetal rat testis cells from 13.5-20.5 days of gestation were treated with dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP), cholera toxin, and hCG to determine the onset of steroidogenesis stimulation by activation of each moiety in the transmembrane signaling system of the fetal
Leydig cell
. Maximal stimulation at each age from 14.5 through 20.5 days of gestation was achieved with 1 mM dbcAMP, 500 ng/ml cholera toxin, or 10 ng/ml hCG. At 13.5 days of gestation, fetal testes did not produce any testosterone. These findings indicate that a cholera toxin-sensitive, stimulatory guanine-nucleotide regulatory protein is functional in the fetal
Leydig cell
as early as 14.5 days of gestation. The LH receptor becomes functional in the transmembrane signaling system of the fetal
Leydig cell
at 14.5 days of gestation.
...
PMID:Development of transmembrane signaling in the fetal rat Leydig cell. 255 8
Luteinizing hormone is the major regulator of
Leydig cell
differentiation and steroidogenic function. A number of hormones produced by the
Leydig cell
(e.g. estrogen, angiotensin, CRF, vasopressin) and the tubular compartment (inhibin, TGF beta), can influence both acute and long-term actions of LH. Conversely, hormones produced in the Leydig cells modulate tubular function (e.g. androgen, beta-endorphin, oxytocin). The LH stimulatory event can be negatively influenced by the action of angiotensin II through the guanyl nucleotide inhibitory unit of
adenylate cyclase
. We have recently discovered an action of corticotrophin releasing hormone through specific high-affinity low-capacity receptors in the Leydig cells which involves a pertussis toxin insensitive guanyl nucleotide regulatory unit with interaction between signalling pathways and resulting inhibition of LH induced cAMP generation and consequently of steroidogenesis. In contrast to other tissues the CRF receptor in the Leydig cells did not couple to Gs. CRF action is exerted through direct or indirect action of protein kinase C, at the level of the catalytic subunit of
adenylate cyclase
. Physiological increases in endogenous LH cause positive regulation of membrane receptors and steroidogenesis, while major elevations in circulating gonadotropin can induce down-regulation of LH receptors and desensitization of steroid responses in the adult cell. Gonadotropin-induced desensitization in adult rat tests include an estrogen mediated steroidogenic lesion of the microsomal enzymes 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-desmolase. For further understanding of the regulation of this key enzyme of the androgen pathway the rat P450(17) alpha cDNA was cloned and sequenced. This cDNA expressed in COS-1 cells 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-desmolase activities. From the deduced amino acid sequence, two transmembrane regions were identified, a signal peptide for insertion in the ER, and a 2nd transmembrane region separated from the first by 122 amino acids. The carboxy terminal non-transmembrane region possesses 4 hydrophobic clefts, of which cleft II would contain the putative steroid binding site for both hydroxylase and lyase activities. The rat cDNA was employed to evaluate the hormonal regulation of mRNA levels in adult and fetal Leydig cells. Low dose hCG treatment caused an early increase in mRNA levels followed by a return to control values at later times, while with higher desensitizing doses the initial increase in mRNA was followed by a marked reduction in mRNA at 24 h and a small recovery at 48 h. Fetal rat Leydig cells treated with E2 showed a 70% decrease in P450 mRNA levels, and testosterone production closely followed the changes in mRNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
...
PMID:LH action in the Leydig cell: modulation by angiotensin II and corticotropin releasing hormone, and regulation of P450(17) alpha mRNA. 269 45
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