Further characterization of the androgen receptor in rat testis.

Immature rat testes contain a specific binding protein for testosterone (T) and 5alpha-dihyrotestosterone (DHT) with physico-chemical properties similar to the cytoplasmic androgen receptors in the epididymis and ventral prostate but different from the testicular androgen-binding protein (ABP). Like the androgen receptors in the prostate and epididymis, it has a sedimentation coefficient of about 7 S at low ionic strength, is eluted in or close to the void volume on Sephadex G-200 gel filtration (Stokes radius greater than 80 A), has an isoelectric point of about 5.6-6.0 (mean) 5.8 and a relative mobility (Rf) of 0.4 in 3.25% acrylamide gels. Following the injection of 3H-labeled testosterone, T and DHT are bound selectively by the receptor. Relatively more [3H]T than [3H]DHT is present in bound and free fractions as well as in total testicular 105,000 g supernatant. Similar results are obtained from testicular incubations with equimolar amounts of [3H]T and [3H]DHT at 0 degrees C in vitro. Saturation of receptor sites is achieved by incubation of testis supernatants with increasing amounts of [3H]T at 0 degrees C. The number of available binding sites following post-hypophysectomy regression is estimated to be about 9 fmoles/mg protein, and the apparent equilibrium constant of dissociation is 7 X 10(-10) M. The temperature stability and sulfhydryl dependence of the testicular androgen receptor are similar to androgen receptors in other organs. Binding is destroyed by heating the supernatants at 50 degrees C for 30 min and by exposure to p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate (1 mM) at 0 degrees C for 60 min. Furthermore, like other androgen receptors, the half-time of dissociation of testicular androgen-receptor complexes at 0 degrees C is extremely slow (t1/2 greater than 35 h). Separation of seminiferous tubules from interstitial tissue showed that a major portion of these receptors were localized within the seminiferous tubules.     

Identification and characterization of arginine vasopressin receptors in the rat testis

We have previously shown that arginine vasopressin (AVP) directly inhibits testicular steroidogenesis in vitro. In the present study, binding of neurohypophysial peptides to interstitial cells of the rat testis was studied using [3H]AVP as the ligand. Interstitial cells were obtained from adult rat testis after collagenase dispersion and were incubated with [3H]AVP in the presence or absence of unlabeled AVP. Binding equilibrium was reached by 60 min at 4 C, while incubation at higher temperatures (23 and 37 C) resulted in an apparent decrease in binding. Scatchard plot analysis of equilibrium binding data revealed the existence of one class of high affinity, low capacity binding sites (Kd = 1.0 +/- 0.3 nM; maximal binding = 8.5 fmol/10(6) cells). In addition, the rate constants of association and dissociation were calculated to be 0.024 nM-1 min-1 and 0.009 min-1, respectively. Addition of naturally occurring neurohypophysial hormones as well as their synthetic analogs inhibited [3H]AVP binding to testis cells, resulting in parallel displacement curves. The order of potencies for the native peptides was: AVP = lysine vasopressin = arginine vasotocin (IC50, 5 X 10(-10) M) greater than oxytocin = mesotocin (IC50, 4 X 10(-7) M) greater than isotocin = glumitocin (IC50 greater than 10(-6) M). Furthermore, two potent vasopressor antagonists, d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP ([1-(beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid), 2-(O-methyl)tyrosine]AVP) and dPTyr(Me)AVP ([1-deaminopenicillamine-2-(O-methyl)tyrosine]AVP) competed for [3H]AVP binding with a higher affinity (IC50, approximately 10(-11) M) than native AVP. In contrast, a selective antidiuretic agonist, dDAVP (1-deamino-8-D-AVP), only competed weakly for receptor binding, while a specific oxytocic agonist, (Thr4,Gly7)oxytocin, did not affect AVP binding. These results suggested that the testis may contain the V1 receptor subtype. Studies on the intratesticular distribution of AVP receptors indicated minimal binding to cells derived from the seminiferous tubule, while most of the AVP-binding sites sediment with enriched fractions of Leydig cells after Metrizamide density gradient centrifugation. AVP-binding sites were also found in rat liver, kidney, and anterior pituitary (10.7, 2.6, and 1.7 fmol/mg protein), whereas adrenal, cerebellum, prostate, and hypothalamus were devoid of AVP-binding sites. Thus, we have demonstrated the presence of high affinity, stereospecific receptors for AVP in the interstitial cell compartment of the rat testis. These V1 receptors may mediate the direct inhibitory action of neurohypophysial hormones on testicular Leydig cell steroidogenesis.     

Characterization of the androgen receptor in the anterior pituitary of the rat.

The specific androgen receptors for testosterone (T) and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the cytosol fraction of the anterior pituitary of rats have been further characterized using electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels. After labeling of the cytosol fraction in vivo and in vitro, we were able to demonstrate androgen-protein complexes moving with an electrophoretic mobility (Rf) of 0.5 in 3.25% acrylamide gels containing 0.5% agarose and 10% glycerol. This method was used for quantitative measurements of pituitary androgen receptors, allowing multiple samples to be run simultaneously with little or no non-specific binding. There was no measurable dissociation of the androgen-receptor complexes during electrophoresis. When radioactive testosterone (1 nM) was added to pituitary cytosol fractions in vitro, there was an increase in the binding up to 4 hours of incubation at 0 C and little or no increase between 4 and 24 hours. All the binding studies therefore were done by incubation overnight at 0 C. When cytosol fractions were incubated with increasing concentrations of radioactive testosterone, a typical saturation curve was found. Scatchard plot analysis showed a binding capacity of 12.0 femtomoles/mg protein and the equilibrium constant of dissociation was estimated to be 3.4 +/- 0.7 (SD) X 10(-10)M. Like other androgen-receptor complexes, the testosterone-receptor complex in the anterior pituitary gland had an extremely slow rate of dissociation at 0 C (t1/2 greater than 4 days). The steroid specificity of the cytoplasmic androgen receptors was tested in vitro by the competing efficiency of different unlabeled steroids for [3H] testosterone binding. T and DHT caused the same inhibition of [3H]T to the receptors. However, since metabolism, of DHT to 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol occurred even at 0 C, the affinity of DHT for the receptor is probably somewhat underestimated. Cyproterone acetate had approximately half the affinity for the receptor compared with T, whereas lower affinities were found for progesterone and 17beta-estradiol. Cortisol did not appear to have any affinity for the receptors. Isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels showed a peak of bound radioactivity with an isoelectric point of 5.8. Thus, the characteristics of the cytoplasmic androgen receptors of the anterior pituitary gland are very similar to those of the androgen receptors described in the ventral prostate, epididymis, and testis.     

Sex difference in the cytosolic and nuclear distribution of androgen receptor in mouse submandibular gland

Cytosol and nuclear androgen receptors in submandibular glands of male and female mice were measured by an exchange assay at 0 degree C. The binding of [3H]methyltrienolone to cytosol receptors in females was mostly saturated within a short period of incubation (3 h), whereas the saturation was much slower in males; suggesting that almost all of the cytosol receptors were unoccupied in females and the receptors were partially occupied in males. Nuclear receptors were extracted with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (5 mmol/l) from nuclear fractions with 93-95% efficiency. The exchange of the bound steroids occurred by 24-48 h at 0 degree C, suggesting that most of the nuclear androgen receptor was occupied. The binding was low at higher temperatures, probably due to inactivation of the receptor. Scatchard analysis showed that the apparent dissociation constants of cytosol and nuclear receptors were similar (0.8 and 0.9 nmol/l respectively) in both sexes. On the other hand, the number of androgen-binding sites in the nucleus was much higher in males than in females (1052 fmol/mg DNA and 32 fmol/mg DNA respectively), while the number in the cytosol was higher in females than in males (512 fmol/mg DNA and 368 fmol/mg DNA respectively). These observations show that androgen receptors exist mainly (74%) in the nuclei of males, while they exist mostly (94%) in the cytosol of females.     

Androgen regulation of the androgen receptor of the quail uropygial gland: application of a [3H]mibolerone exchange assay

An exchange assay for androgen receptors in the quail uropygial gland using [3H]mibolerone was established. The most efficient exchange conditions were 3 days of incubation at 15 degrees C. Under these conditions, androgen receptors were stable in the presence of sodium molybdate, and the exchange of [3H]mibolerone with endogenous testosterone bound to cytosolic or nuclear androgen receptors was maximal. Less than 5% of [3H]mibolerone-binding sites occurred in the extracted nuclear pellets. Using this exchange technique, it was shown that androgen receptors in the uropygial gland of photostimulated male quail or castrated quail treated with testosterone were activated and that their concentrations in both cytosolic and nuclear fractions were increased. These results confirm the androgen dependency of the quail uropygial gland, and show that it is an organ which can be used as a model for the study of androgen action in sebaceous glands.     

Studies of the human testis. VIII. Product activation of 17beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase for testosterone.

Cell-free homogenates prepared from human testis tissue were incubated with either 1.3 x 10(-5)M[4-14C]testosterone and 2 x 10(-4)M NADP or 1.3 x 10(-5) [4-14C]nadrostenedione and 2 x 10(-4)M NADPH. Addition of non-radioactive androstenedione and testosterone to the incubation medium increased the formation of [14C]androstenedione from [4-14C]testosterone and [14C]testosterone from [4-14C]androstenedione, respectively, while addition of product nucleotide NADPH or NADP, respectively, decreased the conversions. The addition of androstenedione to the incubation medium changed the apparent optimal pH of 17beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase for testosterone from 8.6 to 8.0. It appears likely that in a cell-free system human testicular 17beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase not solubilized and still attached to membrane is activated by the product of the reaction catalyzed by the enzyme.     

Evidence for an androgen receptor in porcine Leydig cells

Cytosol and nuclear androgen receptor concentrations were measured in freshly prepared and cultured Leydig cells of immature pig testis with exchange assays using [3H]methyltrienolone as labelled ligand. Androgen receptors in Leydig cells had high affinity for [3H]methyltrienolone and steroid binding specificity typical of an androgen receptor. The mean receptor concentrations were 76 fmol/mg protein and 210 fmol/mg DNA for cytosol and nuclei, respectively. In sucrose gradients, cytosol androgen receptors sedimented in the 4 S region. The cells maintained androgen receptors under culture conditions. Exposure of cultured cells to [3H]methyltrienolone (10 nmol/l) resulted in accumulation of androgen receptors in the nuclei with maximal uptake by 1 h. We conclude that methyltrienolone binding sites with characteristics of androgen receptors were identified in both cytosol and nuclei of porcine Leydig cells.     

Cyproterone acetate prevents translocation of the androgen receptor in the rat prostate

The translocation of the androgen receptor in prostatic tissue has been studied under the influence of different ligands (testosterone, methyltrienolone and cyproterone acetate) in vivo and in vitro. Nuclear and cytoplasmic androgen receptors were estimated using an exchange assay with [3H]methyltrienolone ( [3H]R1881) 1 h and 16 h after injection in castrated rats of either 100 micrograms testosterone (T), 10 mg cyproterone acetate (CA) or the combination of T and CA. Within 1 h after T administration, nuclear receptor levels increased with a concomitant depletion of cytosol receptors. In the CA-treated rats nuclear receptor levels were not different from those of control castrated animals and there was no depletion of cytosol receptors. The combined treatment of T and CA resulted in a partial depletion of cytosol receptors and a simultaneous increase of nuclear receptors. The absence of an increase in nuclear androgen receptors in CA-treated animals cannot be explained by a delay in translocation, because even 16 h after CA injection, only a very small number of nuclear receptors were detectable. Incubation of minced prostatic tissue with [3H]CA or [3H]R 1881 resulted in receptor translocation only in the R1881 incubations and confirmed the in vivo results. Competition studies with different steroids and cytosol receptor (non-activated, 8S form in low salt gradient) or nuclear receptor (activated 3.6S form in high salt gradient) of prostatic tissue show that CA can compete with R1881 for specific androgen-binding sites with a similar relative binding affinity for both receptor preparations. The present results provide evidence that CA prevents translocation of the androgen receptor to the nucleus, although CA can be bound with similar affinities to the nuclear receptor and the cytoplasmic receptor. We propose that the anti-androgenic action of CA involves an inhibition of receptor translocation.     

Reversal of long-term LH deprivation on testosterone secretion and Leydig cell volume, number and proliferation in adult rats

The purpose of this study was to determine whether Leydig cell volume and function could recover fully from long-term LH deprivation upon restoration of endogenous LH secretion, and whether the restoration of LH would elicit a mitogenic response, i.e. stimulate Leydig cell proliferation or affect Leydig cell number per testis. LH secretion was inhibited by treating adult rats with testosterone and oestradiol-filled (TO) silicone elastomer implants (16 weeks), and was restored by removing the implants. Changes in serum concentrations of LH and FSH, LH-stimulated testosterone secretion by testes perfused in vitro, Leydig cell volume and number per testis, average Leydig cell volume and Leydig cell [3H]thymidine incorporation were measured at weekly intervals following implant removal. The TO implants inhibited (P less than 0.01) LH secretion, but serum concentrations of FSH were not significantly different (P greater than 0.10) from control values. After implant removal, serum LH returned to control values within 1 week, whereas serum FSH increased twofold (P less than 0.01) and returned to control values at 4 weeks. LH-stimulated in-vitro testosterone secretion was inhibited by more than 99% in TO-implanted rats, but increased (P less than 0.01) to 80% of control values by 8 weeks after implant removal. The total volume of Leydig cells per testis and the volume of an average Leydig cell were 14 and 19% of control values respectively, after 16 weeks of TO implantation (P less than 0.01), but returned to 83 and 86% of controls (P greater than 0.10) respectively, by 6 weeks after implant removal. Leydig cell proliferation ([3H]thymidine labelling index) was low (less than 0.1%) in both control and TO-implanted rats, increased (P less than 0.01) fivefold from 1 to 4 weeks after implant removal and then declined to control values at 6 weeks. The increase in Leydig cell [3H]thymidine incorporation was mimicked by treating TO-implanted rats with exogenous LH, but not FSH. Leydig cells were identified in both the interstitium and the lamina propria of the seminiferous epithelium. The proportion of Leydig cell nuclei in the lamina propria was 30-fold greater (P less than 0.01) at 1 and 3 weeks after implant removal (3%) compared with that for control and TO-implanted rats (0.1%). Total Leydig cell number per testis was marginally but not significantly (P = 0.06) decreased in rats treated with TO implants for 16 weeks when compared with controls (18.4 +/- 2.2 vs 25.4 +/- 1.2 x 10(6)).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Developmental changes in the uptake of testosterone by the primate brain.

During the neonatal period in male macaques, the testis produces adult-like levels of plasma testosterone (T), but the function of this in development is not understood. To investigate the interaction of T with the neonatal brain, 4 male and 5 female cynomolgus monkeys were gonadectomized 2-5 days after birth, and were injected subcutaneously 3 days later with 500 microCi [3H]-testosterone ([3H]-T). 60 min later, brains and other tissue samples were removed. Purified nuclear pellets were prepared by centrifugation through 2 M sucrose, extracted into ether and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The aromatized metabolite, [3H]-estradiol [( 3H]-E2), was found only in the hypothalamus (HYP) and amygdala (AMG). In HYP, [3H]-E2 represented 55 +/- 3% of the radioactivity in males and 53 +/- 3% in females. In AMG, [3H]-E2 represented 40 +/- 9% of the radioactivity in males and 47 +/- 3% in females. Concentrations of unchanged [3H]-T were higher than those of [3H]-dihydrotestosterone [( 3H]-DHT). Both androgens were present in nuclear pellets from all 8 brain regions studied, and concentrations were significantly higher in females than in males (p less than 0.005). [3H]-T was also the main form of radioactivity in nuclear pellets from pituitary gland, adrenal gland, uterus and liver, but very high levels of [3H]-DHT were found in seminal vesicles, prostate and penis. Comparisons were made with previous results from orchidectomized fetuses at 122 days gestation and from fully adult male castrates, and the largest developmental changes occurred in the AMG where concentrations of [3H]-E2 were 20-fold higher in adults than in fetuses, and most of this increase took place after the neonatal stage. Nuclear concentrations of [3H]-T also increased markedly during development in most brain regions except the cerebellar cortex where they declined.     

Glucocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid effects in rat Sertoli cells

In this report we demonstrate glucocorticoid receptors in seminiferous tubules of the rat testis, and that these receptors are localized in Sertoli cells and peritubular cells. The receptors had high affinity for [3H]dexamethasone (Kd = 0.5 - 1 x 10(-9) M), and similar Kd values were calculated from equilibrium analysis and from rate studies (k1 = 1.5 x 10(6) M-1 min-1 and k-1 = 1.4 x 10(-3) min-1, O C). Binding specificity was typical for glucocorticoid receptors (affinity: dexamethasone greater than corticosterone greater than cortisol approximately R5020 approximately progesterone greater than aldosterone = R1881 greater than 17 beta-estradiol approximately cortisone approximately testosterone greater than 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone). The concentration of glucocorticoid receptors in rat seminiferous tubules revealed an age-dependent decrease, coinciding with the increase in the number of germ cells. Glucocorticoid receptor levels were higher in Sertoli cells from immature rats than in cells from adult rats. Cultured peritubular cells from immature rats contained levels of glucocorticoid receptors similar to cultured Sertoli cells from rats of the same age. With a nick-translated human glucocorticoid receptor complementary DNA probe, a messenger RNA (mRNA) species of approximately 7 kilobase was clearly detected in both Sertoli cells and peritubular cells. In peritubular cells, a smaller mRNA species (5 kilobase) was also clearly detectable. In mRNA from whole testis tissue, a similar developmental pattern as for dexamethasone binding was found. Dexamethasone caused a concentration-dependent stimulation of mRNA levels for androgen binding protein and for the cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunit type II beta in cultured immature rat Sertoli cells. On the other hand, mRNA levels for glucocorticoid receptor decreased, whereas mRNA levels for beta-actin remained constant. This report documents for the first time the presence of glucocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid effects in rat Sertoli cells, and is also the first demonstration of glucocorticoid receptors in peritubular cells of the rat testis.     

Influx of testosterone-binding globulin (TeBG) and TeBG-bound sex steroid hormones into rat testis and prostate

The availability of testosterone and estradiol to Sertoli and prostate cells is dependent upon 1) the permeability properties of the blood-tubular barrier (BTB) of the testis or prostate cell membrane, and 2) sex steroid binding to plasma proteins, such as albumin or testosterone-binding globulin (TeBG). Sex steroid influx into these tissues was studied after in vivo arterial bolus injections of [3H]testosterone or [3H]estradiol in anesthetized rats. Both testosterone and estradiol were readily cleared across the BTB or prostate cell membrane in the absence of plasma proteins and in the presence of human pregnancy serum, in which testosterone or estradiol are 80-95% distributed to TeBG. The extravascular extraction of [3H]TeBG across the BTB or prostate plasma membrane [73 +/- 2% (+/- SE) and 92 +/- 9%, respectively] was significantly greater than extraction of [3H]albumin or other plasma space markers and indicative of a rapid first pass clearance of TeBG by Sertoli or prostate cells. In summary, these studies indicate that 1) testosterone and estradiol are readily cleared by Sertoli and prostate cells; 2) albumin- and TeBG-bound sex steroids represent the major circulating pool of bioavailable hormone for testis or prostate; and 3) the TeBG-sex steroid complex may be nearly completely available for influx through the BTB or prostate plasma membrane.     

Effects of gonadectomy and hormone replacement on steroid hormone receptors and 5 alpha-reductase activity in pituitaries of male rhesus macaques

We measured androgen, estrogen, and progestin receptors and 5 alpha-reductase activity in the anterior and posterior pituitary gland of intact and 6-week castrate adult male rhesus monkeys and castrate males which were treated with testosterone (T) or estradiol (E) from time of surgery. Saturation analysis of anterior pituitary tissues from monkeys receiving various treatments revealed an apparent mean dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.53 +/- 0.17 (+/- SE) X 10(-10) mol/L (n = 3) for [3H]R1881 (androgen) binding to cytosol, 2.6 +/- 0.50 X 10(-10) mol/L (n = 3) for [3H]R2858 (estrogen) binding to cytosol, 1.7 X 10(-10) mol/L (n = 2) for [3H]R5020 (progestin) binding to cytosol, and 6.2 X 10(-10) mol/L (n = 2) for [3H )R1881 binding to cell nuclear extract. The highest levels of nuclear androgen receptor (AR) were found in intact males [37.1 +/- 3.5 (+/- SE) fmol/mg DNA; n = 7] and castrated males treated with T for 6 weeks (89.7 +/- 30.2 fmol/mg DNA; n = 5). High levels of nuclear AR corresponded to serum T levels and low serum LH levels. Nuclear AR was undetectable in castrated males and castrated males treated with E. Significantly greater levels of cytosolic AR were detected in intact males (27.5 +/- 1.6 fmol/mg protein) compared to all other groups (P less than 0.05). T or E treatment had no effect on cytosolic AR. Increased levels of cytosolic progestin receptor were found in intact monkeys and after E or T treatment compared to levels in untreated castrates. No differences in 5 alpha-reductase activity were found between any treatment groups. These data indicate that anterior pituitary nuclear androgen receptor is correlated with serum LH levels and support the hypothesis of a direct action of T on anterior pituitary LH secretion. In addition, it appears that cytosolic progestin receptor, but not AR, is regulated by estrogen in intact male rhesus monkeys. In the posterior pituitary, AR dynamics followed a profile in which cytosolic AR increased after castration and decreased after T treatment. Nuclear AR decreased after castration and increased after T treatment. The presence of a dynamic AR system in the posterior pituitary suggests hormonal regulation of its function by androgens.     

Comparison of the physicochemical properties of uterine nuclear estrogen receptors bound to estradiol or 4-hydroxytamoxifen

We have compared the physicochemical properties of rat uterine nuclear estrogen receptors (ER) labeled with (E2) or the high affinity antiestrogen 4-hydroxytamoxifen [OH Tam; 1-[4-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)phenyl]-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl) 2-phenyl-but-1-(Z)ene]. Nuclear ER labeled in vivo with either ligand had sedimentation rates of 4.5-5S and mol wt (calculated from sedimentation coefficients and Stokes radii) of about 80,000. The 3S and 4S forms labeled by in vitro exchange with [3H]E2 or [3H]OH Tam, respectively, had mol wt of 31,000 and 50,000. Based on apparent Kd values, numbers of binding sites per uterus, and dissociation kinetics, the ligand-binding sites of the nuclear E2- and OH Tam-ER complexes could not be distinguished. An appreciable proportion (25-75%) of 4.5-5S estrogen- or antiestrogen-ER complexes were retained on DNA-cellulose columns and were eluted with 0.21 M KCl, while the 3S and 4S forms had lost the DNA-binding site. Nuclear ER bound to E2 or OH Tam were differentially sensitive to proteolysis with trypsin or alpha-chymotrypsin. Both in vivo and in vitro labeled [3H]OH Tam-ER complexes sedimented as discrete species (S20,w = 3.8-3.9; mol wt, approximately 40,000) after trypsin treatment (50 micrograms/ml; 1 h at 23 C); under the same conditions, peaks of [3H]E2 were obliterated. After digestion with alpha-chymotrypsin (10 micrograms/ml; 1 h at 23 C), nuclear ER labeled in vivo with [3H]E2 or [3H]OH Tam sedimented at 2.9S (mol wt, 29,000) or 4.0S (mol wt, 47,000), respectively; at 50 micrograms/ml, [3H]E2-ER complexes were barely discernible, while binding of [3H]OH Tam was only partially decreased. Nuclear ER labeled with the nonsteroidal estrogen [3H]diethylstilbestrol resembled [3H]E2-ER complexes in sensitivity to proteolysis. These results suggest that nuclear estrogen- and antiestrogen-ER complexes may differ in conformation such that they are differentially susceptible to degradation. This may influence their interactions with chromatin or specific DNA sequences as well as their release from nuclear binding sites.     

Comparisons of the nuclear uptake of [3H]-testosterone and its metabolites by the brains of male and female macaque fetuses at 122 days of gestation

Testosterone secreted by the testis of the macaque fetus is thought to influence certain aspects of the brain's subsequent development which may be responsible for the ontogeny of sexually dimorphic patterns of behavior. To compare the interactions between testosterone and the receptors for androgens and estrogens in brain cell nuclei in the two sexes, 7 intact female fetuses and 5 intact male fetuses were injected in utero at about 120 days of gestation with [3H]-testosterone (250 microCi i.v. or 500 microCi s.c.). One hour later, fetuses were delivered by cesarean section, and samples of brain and peripheral tissues were homogenized and separated into purified nuclear and supernatant fractions. Fractions were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography to measure levels of [3H]-testosterone and its metabolites. Concentrations of radioactivity extracted from cell nuclei were significantly higher in the hypothalamus-preoptic area than in other brain areas (p less than 0.001); [3H]-estradiol represented 65.0 +/- 5.7% of this radioactivity and nuclear concentrations of this metabolite were 73% lower in males than in females (p less than 0.001). Nuclear concentrations of [3H]-testosterone in the pituitary gland (68.9 +/- 8.8% of extracted radioactivity) were 48% lower in males than in females (p less than 0.001). There was no evidence of a sex difference in the tissue uptake of radioactive steroids from blood, but in males, levels of endogenous plasma testosterone (599.8 +/- 208.2 ng/100 ml) were significantly higher than in females (37.7 +/- 28.5 ng/100 ml; p less than 0.01), and the specific activity of [3H]-testosterone in blood was consequently lower in males than in females.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Uptake and conversion of progesterone and testosterone to 5alpha-reduced products by enriched gonadotropic and chromophobic rat anterior pituitary cell fractions.

Monodispersed cells from anterior pituitaries of male rats were prepared by Pronasedissociation and incubated with [3H]progesterone or [3H]testosterone. The cells were then separated into enriched fractions consisting of gonadotropic, somatotropic or chromophobic cells by velocity sedimentation at unit gravity for 4 h. The uptake of [3H]progesterone and [3H]testosterone by the gonadotropic enriched cell fraction was 1.8 to 3.2 times greater than the somatotropic and chromophobic enriched cell fractions. The gonadotropic and chromophobic enriched cell fractions metabolized [3H]progesterone and [3H]testosterone appreciably. The principal metabolites were identified and quantitated by reverse isotopic dilution. After incubation with [3H]progesterone, the principal metabolite was [3H]5alpha-dihydroprogesterone which ranged from 11.5% for the gonadotropic cells to 7.6% for the chromophobic cells. Smaller amounts of 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (3.7 to 4.8%) and 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone (2.1 to 4.3%) were also identified. After incubation with [3H]testosterone, the principal metabolite was 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone which ranged from 12.6% for the gonadotropic cells to 10.3% for the chromophobic cells. Smaller amounts of 5alpha-androstane-3alpha, 17beta-diol (4.1 to 5.5%) and androstenedione (1.8 to 3.0%) were identified. After incubation with [3H]progesterone or [3H]testosterone the same metabolites were also identified in the somatotropic cell fraction but were thought to be present because of contamination with gonadotropic cells. Dissociated pituitary cells from orchidectomized rats had a 2-fold increase in the uptake of [3H]testosterone and a greater metabolism of [3H]testosterone to 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone as compared to pituitary cells from intact rats (12.6 vs 25.7%).     

Absence of a nuclear androgen receptor in isolated germinal cells of rat testis

Androgen receptors are known to be present in the seminiferous tubules of rat testis and in the present study it has been attempted to compare the binding of [³H] testosterone to androgen receptors in male germinal cells and Sertoli cells. Cell preparations enriched in germinal cells and Sertoli cells were isolated from testicular tissue of 30–35-day-old rats. The cell preparations were either obtained from intact rats and labelled in vitro with [³H] testosterone or were obtained from the testes of hypophysectomized rats which were labelled in vivo with [³H]testosterone prior to the isolation of the cells. The nuclear fractions of the labelled cell preparations were extracted with 0.4 M KCl and the extracts were fractionated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation to estimate specific binding of radioactive steroid.Specific binding of radioactive steroid to nuclear androgen receptors was observed in Sertoli cell preparations but not in preparations of germinal cells (spermatocytes and round spermatids).     

Nuclear [3H]4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHTAM)- and [3H]estradiol (E2)-estrogen receptor complexes in the MCF-7 breast cancer and GH3 pituitary tumor cell lines

Nuclear [3H]4-OHTAM-ER complexes extracted by 0.6 M KCl from the MCF-7 human breast cancer and the GH3 rat pituitary tumor cell lines, sedimented as a 5S form on sucrose gradients after 1 to 24 h exposure to ligand (20 nM). The nuclear [3H]4-OHTAM-ER from MCF-7 cells increased from 2 +/- 0.2 pmoles/mg DNA at 1 h to approximately 4 +/- 0.1 pmoles/mg DNA at 6 and 24 h. In the GH3 cells the nuclear binding of [3H]4-OHTAM increased rapidly, and there was no significant difference in the receptor levels at 1 and 6 h (10 +/- 1.3 and 8.9 +/- 1.1 pmoles/mg DNA, respectively). At 24 h there was a decrease in [3H]4-OHTAM-ER levels (7.0 +/- 0.2 pmoles/mg DNA); however, this was due primarily to an increase in DNA synthesis, which occurred in these cells by 24 h. It appears that in both cell lines there is no processing of nuclear [3H]4-OHTAM-ER, and it is not associated with changes in sedimentation coefficient of the complex. When both cell lines were incubated with [3H]E2 (20 nM), processing of the nuclear [3H]E2-ER occurred over 6 h. In the MCF-7 cells there was a decrease in receptor content within 6 h from 3.2 +/- 0.2 to 0.9 +/- 0.2 pmoles/mg DNA. The nuclear [3H]E2-ER in the GH3 cells decreased from 7.3 +/- 0.5 to 2.8 +/- 0.3 pmoles/mg DNA. Although these cell lines appeared to process the [3H]E2-ER complex, the nuclear forms of [3H]E2-ER were different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Testosterone metabolism in prepubertal rabbit cartilage

Using thin-layer chromatography, celite column chromatography and recrystallization methods, articular (AR) and growth plate (GP) cartilage tissues and cells from prepubertal rabbits were shown to convert testosterone (T) into at least three main metabolites: dihydrotestosterone (DHT), delta 4-androstenedione and androstanediols. In tissue incubation experiments the amount of each newly formed metabolite per mg of tissue was always greater in AR than in GP cartilage. After a 24 h incubation with AR or GP cartilage tissues, T was mainly converted to DHT and delta 4-androstenedione in approximately equal amounts. The amount of androstanediol metabolites formed was much lower. In a time-course experiment, the conversion of T to DHT and delta 4-androstenedione was shown to increase in a linear fashion, while the conversion to androstanediols was more variable. Using cultured AR cartilage cell incubations, similar results were obtained. In addition, DHT was shown to be the sole metabolite which accumulated in the cellular pool during the first 3 h incubation, as well as during the 24 h incubation when maximum cellular uptake of radioactivity was observed. At this time, the intracellular amount of unmetabolized [3H]T (88 pmoles/100 micrograms DNA) was similar to the amount of [3H]DHT (70 pmoles/100 micrograms DNA) accumulated in the chondrocytes. For both delta 4-androstenedione and androstanediols, 99% of radioactivity was extracted from the incubation medium.     

Fibroblast growth factor inhibits luteinizing hormone-stimulated androgen production by cultured rat testicular cells

The effect of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) on LH-stimulated testosterone production was investigated using primary cultures of rat testicular cells. Testicular cells obtained from neonatal rats (8-9 days of age) were maintained in culture for 3 days and then challenged with LH with or without basic FGF. After 3 additional days of culture, the media were collected for steroid RIA. LH treatment of cultured cells stimulated testosterone production in a dose-dependent fashion whereas FGF alone did not affect androgen biosynthesis. In contrast, cotreatment with FGF caused a dose-dependent decrease of LH-stimulated testosterone production, with an IC50 value of 1.1 X 10(-9) M (as calculated from three separate experiments). The inhibitory effect of FGF was evident 24 h after the initiation of treatment and this effect was reversible 1 day after the cessation of FGF treatment. The inhibition of LH-induced testosterone production by FGF (maximal inhibition greater than 90%) was accompanied by a 12-fold increase in progesterone levels, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of FGF was distal to the step of progesterone formation. FGF also inhibited forskolin (10(-5) M)- and (Bu)2cAMP (5 X 10(-4) M)-stimulated testosterone production. Furthermore, FGF inhibited the conversion of exogenously added androgen precursors (progesterone and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone) to testosterone in LH-stimulated cultures indicating that FGF might inhibit 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity. The concept of a direct testicular action of FGF was further supported by the demonstration of high affinity (Kd: 3.9 X 10(-10) M; n = 3 experiments) and low capacity (46,900 sites per cell) FGF receptors in cultured testis cells. The binding of [125I]FGF was inhibited by basic and acidic FGF but not by several other growth factors. In conclusion, we suggest that FGF binds to testicular cells and inhibits LH-stimulated testosterone production by inhibiting, at least partially, 17 alpha-hydroxylase enzyme activities. Because FGF has been purified from testis extracts, this growth factor may have intratesticular paracrine or autocrine functions.