scholarly journals The Steroidogenic Response and Corpus Luteum Expression of the Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein after Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Administration at Different Times in the Human Luteal Phase

2003 ◽  
Vol 88 (7) ◽  
pp. 3421-3430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulina Kohen ◽  
Olga Castro ◽  
Alberto Palomino ◽  
Alex Muñoz ◽  
Lane K. Christenson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corpus Luteum ◽  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory

scholarly journals Cyclooxygenase-2 and Prostaglandin F2α in Syrian Hamster Leydig Cells: Inhibitory Role on Luteinizing Hormone/Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-Stimulated Testosterone Production

Endocrinology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 147 (9) ◽  
pp. 4476-4485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica B. Frungieri ◽  
Silvia I. Gonzalez-Calvar ◽  
Fernanda Parborell ◽  
Martin Albrecht ◽  
Artur Mayerhofer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Syrian Hamster ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein ◽  
Testosterone Production ◽  
Cox 2 ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory

We have previously found that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins (PGs), is present in the testicular interstitial cells of infertile men, whereas it is absent in human testes with no evident morphological changes or abnormalities. To find an animal model for further investigating COX-2 and its role in testicular steroidogenesis, we screened testes from adult species ranging from mice to monkeys. By using immunohistochemical assays, we found COX-2 expression only in Leydig cells of the reproductively active (peripubertal, pubertal, and adult) seasonal breeder Syrian hamster. COX-2 expression in hamster Leydig cells was confirmed by RT-PCR. In contrast, COX-1 expression was not detected in hamster testes. Because COX-2 expression implies PG synthesis, we investigated the effect of various PGs on testosterone production and found that PGF2α stood out because it significantly reduced human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated testosterone release from isolated hamster Leydig cells in a dose-dependent manner. This mechanism involves a decreased expression of testicular steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Testicular concentration and content of PGF2α in reproductively active hamsters as well as production of PGF2α from isolated hamster Leydig cells were also determined. Moreover, PGF2α receptors were localized in Leydig cells of hamsters and testicular biopsies from patients with Sertoli cell only and germ arrest syndromes. Thus, in this study, we described a COX-2-initiated pathway that via PGF2α production, PGF2α receptors, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase represents a physiological local inhibitory system of human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated testosterone production in the Syrian hamster testes.

scholarly journals Expression of Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein in the Human Corpus Luteum throughout the Luteal Phase

2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
pp. 5633-5639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Devoto ◽  
Paulina Kohen ◽  
Ruben René Gonzalez ◽  
Olga Castro ◽  
Ivan Retamales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corpus Luteum ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory ◽  
Human Corpus Luteum

scholarly journals Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases Are Involved in the Acute Activation of Steroidogenesis in Immature Rat Leydig Cells by Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

Endocrinology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 145 (10) ◽  
pp. 4629-4634 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Martinelle ◽  
M. Holst ◽  
O. Söder ◽  
K. Svechnikov
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Protein Phosphatase ◽  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein ◽  
Immature Rat ◽  
Phosphatase 2A ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory

Abstract We studied the involvement of the ERK cascade in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-induced steroidogenesis by primary cultures of immature rat Leydig cells. Our findings indicate that protein kinase A and protein kinase C function as upstream kinases in connection with transduction of the signal from the gonadotropin receptor to the ERK cascade. These MAPKs enhance the stimulatory effects of hCG on the de novo synthesis of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and the activity of protein phosphatase 2A, which are associated with increased androgen production by the Leydig cell. Specific inhibition of ERK1/2 by Uo126 suppressed all of these cellular responses to hCG. In contrast, steroidogenesis from 22OHC (a cell-permeable form of cholesterol) is not inhibited by Uo126, suggesting that cholesterol delivery to mitochondria is being affected by this compound. We propose that the ERK cascade is an important part of the signal transduction pathway involved in the rapid hormonal responses of Leydig cells to trophic hormones. In hCG-activated Leydig cells, these MAPKs may play a role in controlling the biosynthesis of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein as well as regulating protein phosphatase 2A activity, thereby governing cholesterol transport across the mitochondrial membrane.

scholarly journals Luteinizing Hormone/Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-Mediated Activation of mTORC1 Signaling Is Required for Androgen Synthesis by Theca-Interstitial Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 1732-1742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murugesan Palaniappan ◽  
K. M. J. Menon
Keyword(s):  
Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein ◽  
Steroidogenic Enzymes ◽  
Steroidogenic Enzyme ◽  
S6 Kinase ◽  
Ribosomal Protein S6 ◽  
Mtorc1 Signaling ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory ◽  
I Cells

Abstract LH triggers the biosynthesis of androgens in the theca-interstitial (T-I) cells of ovary through the activation of a cAMP-dependent pathway. We have previously shown that LH/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) activates mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling network, leading to cell proliferation. In the present study, we provide evidence that the LH/hCG-mediated activation of the mTORC1 signaling cascade is involved in the regulation of steroidogenic enzymes in androgen biosynthesis. Treatment with LH/hCG increased the expression of downstream targets of mTORC1, ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1, and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E as well as steroidogenic enzymes. LH/hCG-mediated stimulation of the steroidogenic enzyme mRNA was blocked by the mTORC1 inhibitor, rapamycin. This inhibitory effect was selective because rapamycin failed to block hCG-mediated increase in the expression of Star mRNA levels. Furthermore, pharmacological targeting of mTORC1 with rapamycin also blocked LH/hCG- or forskolin-induced expression of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and steroidogenic enzymes (P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, and 17α-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase) but produced no effect on steroidogenic acute regulatory protein levels. These results were further confirmed by demonstrating that the knockdown of mTOR using small interfering RNA selectively abrogated the LH/hCG-induced increase in steroidogenic enzyme expression, without affecting steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression. LH/hCG-stimulated androgen production was also blocked by rapamycin. Furthermore, the pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 or ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 signaling prevented the LH/hCG-induced phosphorylation of CREB. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed the association of CREB with the proximal promoter of the Cyp17a1 gene in response to hCG, and this association was reduced by rapamycin treatment. Taken together, our findings show for the first time that LH/hCG-mediated activation of androgen biosynthesis is regulated by the mTORC1 signaling pathway in T-I cells.

scholarly journals Oxygen Concentration Is an Important Factor for Modulating Progesterone Synthesis in Bovine Corpus Luteum

Endocrinology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 147 (9) ◽  
pp. 4273-4280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryo Nishimura ◽  
Ryosuke Sakumoto ◽  
Yuko Tatsukawa ◽  
Tomas J. Acosta ◽  
Kiyoshi Okuda
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Corpus Luteum ◽  
Oxygen Deficiency ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Luteal Cells ◽  
O2 Concentration ◽  
Oxygen Condition ◽  
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory

Oxygen deficiency caused by a decrease in the blood supply is known to induce various responses of cells. Because luteal blood flow has been shown to decrease during luteolysis, a low-oxygen condition seems to be an integral part of the environment during luteolysis. To determine whether a low-oxygen condition is associated with functional luteolysis, we examined the influence of reduced oxygen tension on the luteal progesterone (P4) generating system in cultured bovine midluteal cells. Luteal cells obtained from midcycle corpus luteum (d 8–12) were incubated under different O2 concentrations (20, 10, 5, 3% O2) with or without LH for 24 h. P4 production decreased with decreasing O2 concentration but was significantly stimulated by LH regardless of O2 concentration. After 8 h of culture, both basal and LH-stimulated P4 production was significantly lower under 3% O2 than under 20% O2. Low-oxygen condition also inhibited pregnenolone production. Cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) mRNA expression, measured by quantitative PCR, decreased under low-oxygen condition in both non-LH-treated and LH-treated cells. Low-oxygen condition did not affect the expressions of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein mRNA or protein, whereas steroidogenic acute regulatory protein mRNA expression was stimulated by LH during 4 h of culture. Low-oxygen condition also did not affect 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5-Δ4 isomerase mRNA expression or the activity of the enzyme in the cells, regardless of the incubation period. The overall results indicate that a low-oxygen condition decreases P4 synthesis by attenuating P450scc production and P450scc activity in bovine luteal cells and suggest that oxygen deficiency is an essential condition for the progression of luteolysis in cattle.

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