title: Progestins stimulate the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.
abstract: The effect of progesterone on the differentiation of the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was investigated and compared with other sex steroids (estradiol and testosterone), with cortisol, with the synthetic progestin R5020 and with the progestin/glucocorticoid antagonist RU38486. At 10(-8) M, progesterone stimulated the activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and triglyceride deposition. Progesterone, R5020, cortisol, and RU38486 increased triglycerides about 2-fold at 10(-7) M. Only minimal effects were observed with testosterone and estradiol even at 10(-6) M. When the cells were cultured in presence of 10(-5) M metyrapone the effect of progesterone was unchanged, suggesting that the progesterone was not metabolized to a glucocorticoid. Progesterone, R5020 and RU38486 competed efficiently with [3H]dexamethasone for the glucocorticoid receptor in 3T3-L1 cytosol. These results indicate a significant, reproducible dose-dependent effect of progestins on differentiation of the preadipocytes, which appears to be mediated via the glucocorticoid receptor.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Theoretical and Physical Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health 20892.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rondinone
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodbard
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005993:Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011372:Progestins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011397:Promegestone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000187:drug effects; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011372:Progestins; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D014280:Triglycerides; D015735:Mifepristone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D003907:Dexamethasone; D011397:Promegestone; D005993:Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase; D006854:Hydrocortisone