PRODUCTION OF MALE PSEUDOHERMAPHRODITISM IN RATS BY TWO NEW INHIBITORS OF STEROID 17α-HYDROXYLASE AND C 17-20 LYASE

1976 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. GOLDMAN ◽  
R. D. EAVEY ◽  
MARY K. BAKER
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Inhibitors ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Rat Pups ◽  
Potent Inhibition

SUMMARY Two new synthetic steroid analogues, (I) 16β-bromo-3β,17α-dihydroxy-5α-pregnane-11,20-dione and (II) 17β-ureido-1,4-androstadien-3-one have been shown to give kinetic patterns consistent with active-site-directed irreversible inhibition of adult rat testicular microsomal steroid 17α-hydroxylase and C17-20 lyase in vitro. Administration of both analogues to adult male rats for 24 h produced potent inhibition of these testicular enzymes in vivo. Given to pregnant rats during the critical period of male organogenesis they produced hypospadias: a characteristic of the syndrome in man in which these enzymes are defective genetically. Given to male rat pups during the first 9 days of life, inhibitor II produced significantly smaller prostates and seminal vesicles in adulthood, indicating the usefulness of this inhibitor in studies on the role of testosterone in neonatal programming of target organ size in adulthood. Thus, two new enzyme inhibitors have been shown to block testosterone production in the foetal and neonatal rat selectively at the site of the hydroxylase without other apparent hormonal effects or influence on adrenal size.

scholarly journals In vitro pituitary and testicular effects of the leptin-related synthetic peptide leptin(116-130) amide involve actions both similar to and distinct from those of the native leptin molecule in the adult rat

2000 ◽  
pp. 406-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Tena-Sempere ◽  
L Pinilla ◽  
LC Gonzalez ◽  
J Navarro ◽  
C Dieguez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Gh Secretion ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Testosterone Secretion

The obese gene (ob) product, leptin, has recently emerged as a key element in body weight homeostasis, neuroendocrine function and fertility. Identification of biologically active, readily synthesized fragments of the leptin molecule has drawn considerable attention, as they may provide a powerful tool for detailed characterization of the biological actions of leptin in different experimental settings. Recently, a fragment of mouse leptin protein comprising amino acids 116-130, termed leptin(116-130) amide, was shown to mimic the effects of the native molecule in terms of body weight gain and food intake, and to elicit LH and prolactin (PRL) secretion in vivo. As a continuation of our previous experimental work, the present study reports on the effects of leptin(116-130) amide on basal and stimulated testosterone secretion by adult rat testis in vitro. In addition, a comparison of the effects of human recombinant leptin and leptin(116-130) amide at the pituitary level on the patterns of LH, FSH, PRL and GH secretion is presented. As reported previously by our group, human recombinant leptin(10(-9)-10(-7)M) significantly inhibited both basal and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)-stimulated testosterone secretion in vitro. Similarly, incubation of testicular tissue in the presence of increasing concentrations of leptin(116-130) amide (10(-9)-10(-5)M) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of basal and hCG-stimulated testosterone secretion; a reduction that was significant from a dose of 10(-7)M upwards. In addition, leptin(116-130) amide, at all doses tested (10(-9)-10(-5)M), significantly decreased LH and FSH secretion by incubated hemi-pituitaries from adult male rats. In contrast, in the same experimental protocol, recombinant leptin(10(-9)-10(-7)M) was ineffective in modulating LH and FSH release. Finally, neither recombinant leptin nor leptin(116-130) amide were able to change basal PRL and GH secretion in vitro. Our results confirm the ability of leptin, acting at the testicular level, to inhibit testosterone secretion, and map the effect to a domain of the leptin molecule that lies between amino acid residues 116 and 130. In addition, we provide evidence for a direct inhibitory action of leptin(116-130) amide on pituitary LH and FSH secretion, a phenomenon not observed for the native leptin molecule, in the adult male rat.

Quantification of the Uncertainties in Extrapolating From In Vitro Androgen Receptor Antagonism to In Vivo Hershberger Assay Endpoints and Adverse Reproductive Development in Male Rats

2020 ◽  
Vol 176 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-311
Author(s):  
Leon E Gray ◽  
Johnathan R Furr ◽  
Christy S Lambright ◽  
Nicola Evans ◽  
Phillip C Hartig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Androgen Receptor ◽  
Adverse Outcome ◽  
In Utero ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Rat Offspring ◽  
Hershberger Assay ◽  
Key Events

Abstract Multiple molecular initiating events exist that disrupt male sexual differentiation in utero including androgen receptor (AR) antagonism and inhibition of synthesis, and metabolism of fetal testosterone. Disruption of androgen signaling by AR antagonists in utero reduces anogenital distance (AGD) and induces malformations in F1 male rat offspring. We are developing a quantitative network of adverse outcome pathways that includes multiple molecular initiating events and key events linking anti-AR activities to permanent reproductive abnormalities. Here, our objective was to determine how accurately the EC50s for AR antagonism in vitro or ED50s for reduced tissue growth in the Hershberger assay (HA) (key events in the adverse outcome pathway) predict the ED50s for reduced AGD in male rats exposed in utero to AR antagonists. This effort included in-house data and published studies from the last 60 years on AR antagonism in vitro and in vivo effects in the HA and on AGD after in utero exposure. In total, more than 250 studies were selected and included in the analysis with data from about 60 potentially antiandrogenic chemicals. The ability to predict ED50s for key events and adverse developmental effects from the in vitro EC50s displays considerable uncertainty with R2 values for HA and AGD of < 6%. In contrast, there is considerably less uncertainty in extrapolating from the ED50s in the HA to the ED50s for AGD (R2 value of about 85%). In summary, the current results suggest that the key events measured in the HA can be extrapolated with reasonable certainty to predict the ED50s for the adverse in utero effects of antiandrogenic chemicals on male rat offspring.

scholarly journals Betamethasone modulation of sphingomyelin hydrolysis up-regulates CTP:cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase activity in adult rat lung

1996 ◽  
Vol 318 (1) ◽  
pp. 333-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rama K MALLAMPALLI ◽  
Satya N MATHUR ◽  
Lorna J WARNOCK ◽  
Ronald G SALOME ◽  
Gary W HUNNINGHAKE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrolysis Product ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Acid Sphingomyelinase ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Reversible Inhibitor ◽  
Serine Palmitoyltransferase ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Surfactant Synthesis

Glucocorticoids appear to play an integral role in stimulating surfactant synthesis by activating the rate-regulatory enzyme for phosphatidylcholine synthesis, CTP:cholinephosphate cytidylyltransferase (CT). The activity of liver CT, in vitro, has been shown to be inhibited by the sphingomyelin hydrolysis product, sphingosine. In order to investigate the mechanisms by which glucocorticoids alter CT activity, in vivo, we administered betamethasone (1 mg/kg intraperitoneally) sequentially to adult male rats for 5 days. Betamethasone increased CT activity 2-fold relative to control in whole lung. The hormone also increased membrane-bound activity, but did not affect cytosolic enzyme activity. Betamethasone modestly increased CT mRNA as determined by the reverse-transcription PCR and Southern analysis of PCR products, but did not alter the levels of immunoreactive enzyme in lung membranes as demonstrated by Western blotting. The hormone did, however, produce a nearly 3-fold increase in membrane-associated sphingomyelin, and co-ordinately a substantial decrease in the levels of sphingosine in lung membranes. Sphingosine, but not sphinganine, was a competitive, reversible inhibitor of lung CT with respect to the enzyme activator, phosphatidylglycerol. Betamethasone decreased the activities of the sphingomyelin hydrolases: acid sphingomyelinase by 33% and of alkaline ceramidase by 21%. The hormone also inhibited the generation of sphingosine from lysosphingomyelin in lung membranes. There was no significant effect of the hormone on serine palmitoyltransferase activity, the first committed enzyme for sphingolipid biosynthesis. Further, administration of l-cycloserine, an inhibitor of sphingosine formation, was shown to stimulate CT activity by 74% and increase disaturated phosphatidylcholine in alveolar lavage by 52% relative to control. These observations suggest that glucocorticoids up-regulate surfactant synthesis at the level of a key regulatory enzyme by significantly altering the availability of inhibitory metabolites resulting from sphingomyelin hydrolysis.

scholarly journals Developmental changes in rat blood choline concentration

1981 ◽  
Vol 198 (3) ◽  
pp. 565-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
S H Zeisel ◽  
R J Wurtman
Keyword(s):  
High Serum ◽  
Choline Oxidase ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Betaine Aldehyde Dehydrogenase ◽  
Choline Dehydrogenase ◽  
Rat Pups ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Old Rats

1. Serum choline concentration in the newborn rat is extremely high and declines as the rat matures until adult values are attained at 20 days of age. 2. Rat milk is a rich source of choline, and rat pups denied access to milk had significantly lower serum choline concentrations than did fed littermates. We conclude that dietary intake of choline contributes to the maintenance of high serum choline concentrations in the neonatal rat. 3. In vivo, choline disappears with a half-life of 70 min. It is converted into betaine, phosphocholine and phosphatidylcholine. The rate of phosphocholine formation is identical in 3- and 10-day-old rats (3.3 mumol/h), whereas the rate of betaine formation is slower in younger animals (0.15 mumol/h at 3 days versus 0.69 mumol/h at 10 days). In vitro, choline oxidase activity [choline dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.1) and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.8)] increased between birth and 40 days of age. The age-related acceleration in choline's conversion into betaine probably tends to diminish unesterified choline concentration in the rat.

Hachimijiogan Produces Testosterone in Adult Rat Testes

1988 ◽  
Vol 16 (03n04) ◽  
pp. 93-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Usuki
Keyword(s):  
Male Rats ◽  
In Vivo Study ◽  
Steroid Production ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Testosterone Production ◽  
Incubation Study ◽  
Estradiol 17Β

The effect of Hachimijiogan (HZ) and Keishibukuryogan (KB) on the steroid production in rats was examined in vivo and in vitro. In an in vivo study, HZ stimulated the testes from ten-week old male rats to produce testoterone, whereas KB decreased the tissue testosterone concentrations. The Δ4-androstenedione and estradiol-17β (E2) showed no significant changes. In an incubation study, HZ also stimulated the testosterone production. The data suggested that HZ produces testosterone in rat testes. The role of KB is questionable.

THE EFFECT OF 2-BROMO-α-ERGOCRYPTINE (CB154) ADMINISTRATION ON THE HORMONE LEVELS, ORGAN WEIGHTS, PROSTATIC MORPHOLOGY AND ZINC CONCENTRATIONS IN THE MALE RAT

1976 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Harper ◽  
V. Danutra ◽  
J. A. Chandler ◽  
K. Griffiths
Keyword(s):  
Prostatic Tissue ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Plasma Prolactin ◽  
Cell Organelles ◽  
Adenyl Cyclase Activity ◽  
Zinc Concentrations ◽  
High Concentrations

ABSTRACT 2-Bromo-α-ergocryptine (CB154) administration to male rats produced a significant decrease in plasma prolactin levels without changing the LH and testosterone concentrations. The weights of the accessory sex tissues, testes, adrenals and kidney were unaltered by the treatment. Zinc concentration and distribution in the cell organelles of the prostatic tissue was markedly changed by CB154 treatment. No changes in the uptake of testosterone in vivo occurred in the treated animals. Prolactin did not consistently influence the prostatic adenyl cyclase activity in vitro and only at high concentrations was the testosterone uptake in vitro with cultures of prostatic tissue increased.

In utero exposure to dicyclohexyl and di-n-hexyl phthalate possess genotoxic effects on testicular cells of male rats after birth in the comet and TUNEL assays

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
M A Ahbab ◽  
Ü Ündeğer ◽  
N Barlas ◽  
N Başaran
Keyword(s):  
Comet Assay ◽  
Corn Oil ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Rat Pups ◽  
Testicular Cells

Phthalates are diester derivatives of phthalic acid widely used in many commercial applications. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate possible genotoxicity of di- n-hexyl phthalate (DHP) and dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP) at different concentrations using single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assays in testes samples of male rat pups. DCHP and DHP in corn oil were administered to the pregnant rats by gavage at the doses of 0 (vehicle), 20, 100, and 500 mg kg−1 day−1 from gestational day 6 (GD6) to GD19. After delivery, male rats were allowed to grow until prepubertal, pubertal, and adulthood. At necropsy, the blood samples were collected from heart and were excised immediately. The apoptotic cells of prepubertal, pubertal, and adult testis were detected using TUNEL assay. The comet assay was performed on blood lymphocytes and testes samples of adult male rats. The comet assay results showed that tail length, tail intensity, olive tail moment (OTM), and percentage of DNA present in tail were higher when DHP content was increased. Judging from the values of OTM and percentage of DNA, DHP could significantly induce DNA breakage at doses of 100 and 500 mg kg−1 day−1 compared with the control group. An increase in TUNEL-positive cells of prepubertal, pubertal, and adult testicular cells was observed in the treated groups. In conclusion, prenatal exposure to DHP and DCHP may possess genotoxic risk to testicular cells of rats at all stages of development, even at adulthood.

scholarly journals Age Related Response of Neonatal Rat Retinal Ganglion Cells to Reduced TrkB Signaling in vitro and in vivo

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Beros ◽  
Jennifer Rodger ◽  
Alan R Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Retinal Ganglion Cells ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Rat Pups ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Blocking Antibodies

During development of retinofugal pathways there is naturally occurring cell death of at least 50% of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In rats, RGC death occurs over a protracted pre- and early postnatal period, the timing linked to the onset of axonal ingrowth into central visual targets. Gene expression studies suggest that developing RGCs switch from local to target-derived neurotrophic support during this innervation phase. Here we investigated, in vitro and in vivo, how RGC birthdate affects the timing of the transition from intra-retinal to target-derived neurotrophin dependence. RGCs were pre-labeled with 5-Bromo-2′-Deoxyuridine (BrdU) at embryonic (E) day 15 or 18. For in vitro studies, RGCs were purified from postnatal day 1 (P1) rat pups and cultured with or without: (i) brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), (ii) blocking antibodies to BDNF and neurotrophin 4/5 (NT-4/5), or (iii) a tropomyosin receptor kinase B fusion protein (TrkB-Fc). RGC viability was quantified 24 and 48 h after plating. By 48 h, the survival of purified βIII-tubulin immunopositive E15 but not E18 RGCs was dependent on addition of BDNF to the culture medium. For E18 RGCs, in the absence of exogenous BDNF, addition of blocking antibodies or TrkB-Fc reduced RGC viability at both 24 and 48 h by 25–40%. While this decrease was not significant due to high variance, importantly, each blocking method also consistently reduced complex process expression in surviving RGCs. In vivo, survival of BrdU and Brn3a co-labeled E15 or E18 RGCs was quantified in rats 24 h after P1 or P5 injection into the eye or contralateral superior colliculus (SC) of BDNF and NT-4/5 antibodies, or serum vehicle. The density of E15 RGCs 24 h after P1 or P5 injection of blocking antibodies was reduced after SC but not intraretinal injection. Antibody injections into either site had little obvious impact on viability of the substantially smaller population of E18 RGCs. In summary, most early postnatal RGC death in the rat involves the elimination of early-born RGCs with their survival primarily dependent upon the availability of target derived BDNF during this time. In contrast, late-born RGC survival may be influenced by additional factors, suggesting an association between RGC birthdate and developmental death mechanisms.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of hepatic phosphatidylcholine synthesis in adult rat: effects of pregnancy

1994 ◽  
Vol 303 (3) ◽  
pp. 941-947 ◽  
Author(s):  
G C Burdge ◽  
A N Hunt ◽  
A D Postle
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Species ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Essential Fatty Acids ◽  
Maternal Diet ◽  
Liver Microsomes ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Adult Rat

Late pregnancy in the rat (gestational ages 16-21 days) was accompanied by a specific increase in hepatic phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) molecular species containing C16:0 at the sn-1 position and polyunsaturated essential fatty acids (PUFA), in particular C22:6(n-3), at the sn-2 position. Incorporation of either CDP:[Me-14C]choline or CDP:[1,2-14C]-ethanolamine into hepatic microsomal sn-1 C16:0 PC or PE molecular species in vitro was greater at term than in non-pregnant animals, suggesting modifications to the composition of specific diacylglycerol (DAG) pools destined for synthesis of either PC or PE. Also, incorporation of [Me-14C]choline or [Me-14C]methionine into hepatic PC in vivo over 6 h in term pregnant rats was consistent with decreased phospholipase A1-dependent acyl remodelling of sn-1 C16:0 to sn-1 C18:0 molecular species. There was, however, no evidence to support any change to the specificity of acyl remodelling. The rate of PC synthesis by the de novo pathway in vivo was increased in term liver compared with non-pregnant animals, accompanied by increased choline-phosphotransferase activity in vitro in d21 liver microsomes. The rate of PC synthesis by PE N-methylation did not appear to change during pregnancy. Changes in composition of plasma PC species at term reflected those of newly synthesized hepatic PC. Our data suggest supply of PUFA to the developing fetal rat is the result of specific adaptations to maternal hepatic phospholipid biosynthesis rather than passive transfer from the maternal diet.

Glucocorticoid–dependent maintenance of CYP2C11–dependent oxidation in male rat liver in vivo

2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Murray
Keyword(s):  
Rat Liver ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Hormonal Factors ◽  
Adrenal Hormones ◽  
Male Specific ◽  
Physiological Correlate ◽  
Made In

1 Hormonal factors participate in the regulation of xenobiotic metabolising enzymes in liver. Hepatic xenobiotic oxidation capacity is decreased in adrena-lectomised rats, which directly implicates adrenal hormones in the control of cytochrome P450 (CYP) expression. In addition, recent studies in cultured hepatocytes have demonstrated that low concentra-tions of glucocorticoid upregulate the male-specific CYP2C11, which is a major enzyme that catalyses xenobiotic and steroid hydroxylations in rat liver. The present study evaluated whether glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid may be the adrenal factor that contributes to the in vivo expression of CYP2C11 in liver. 2 Adrenalectomy of male rats selectively decreased CYP2C11-dependent 2a-/16a-hydroxylation of testos-terone and other steroid substrates to 60-70% of control, whereas activities mediated by other constitu-tive CYPs were unaffected. The decrease in CYP2C11 activity was due to impaired protein expression in liver after adrenalectomy. Administration of dexametha-sone (DEX; 0.2 mg/kg i.p. daily for 6 days) restored CYP2C11 activity and protein, whereas the mineralo-corticoid deoxycorticosterone (DOC) and adrenocorti-cotropic hormone (ACTH) were ineffective. 3 These findings establish that glucocorticoids have a partial role in the maintenance of CYP2C11 expression and associated microsomal oxidation in liver and provide a physiological correlate for similar observa-tions made in vitro in hepatocyte culture.

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