Gonadal steroids modulate adrenal fasciculata 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-isomerase activity in mice.
The observation that adrenal 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-delta 5----delta 4-isomerase (3 beta HSD) activity is greater in females than in males of both C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ inbred strains of mice led us to test the hypothesis that this enzyme's activity within the adrenal gland may be modulated by gonadal steroids. Two weeks after sham-operation or castration, no castration effect was seen in adrenal 3 beta HSD activity, but the sex difference had been eliminated in C57BL/6J animals. Gonadal steroids were replaced in castrated animals of both sexes of C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ mice. Daily injections of androgenic steroids (testosterone propionate or dihydrotestosterone) decreased adrenal 3 beta HSD activity in both sexes of both strains of mouse. Although estradiol benzoate did not alter adrenal 3 beta HSD activity in either sex or strain tested when the activity was expressed on a per adrenal gland basis, it did inhibit adrenal 3 beta HSD activity when expressed on a per milligram of adrenal tissue basis in C57BL/6J but not in C3H/HeJ animals. Histochemical staining for 3 beta HSD and the relationship between adrenal weight and the cross-sectional area of the zona fasciculata suggested that the adrenal zona fasciculata was the target of the inhibitory effects of androgens on adrenal 3 beta HSD activity.
Perry
J E
JE
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Ohio 44242.
Stalvey
J R
JR
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D000818:Animals; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011375:Progesterone Reductase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013251:Steroid Isomerases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology
C021425:3 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase-delta(5) 3-ketosteroid isomerase; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; C010452:estradiol-17 beta-benzoate; D011375:Progesterone Reductase; D013251:Steroid Isomerases