title: Effect of ketoconazole on steroidogenic human granulosa-luteal cells in culture.
abstract: Ketoconazole (KCZ), a widely used antifungal drug, has been reported in humans to inhibit adrenal and testicular steroidogenesis by interfering with the cytochrome P-450-dependent enzymes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the drug effect on steroidogenic human granulosa-luteal cells, obtained by follicular aspiration from mature follicles of gonadotropin-treated women. Cells were cultured in long-term monolayers, and the steroid production was assayed by radioimmunoassay. A profound inhibition of ovarian cell secretion of progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and estradiol was found. At a low concentration (5 micrograms/ml), KCZ failed to inhibit the conversion of pregnenolone to P, mediated by the non-cytochrome 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-isomerase enzyme (3 beta-HSDH). At a similar concentration, P secretion by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 100 mIU/ml) -treated cells was decreased by 68% (P less than 0.001) and therefore, an inhibitory effect of KCZ on the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P-450SCC) was assumed. A similar marked inhibitory effect (81%) (P less than 0.001) on T secretion was observed for hCG-stimulated cells given pregnenolone as substrate. The P-450 aromatase was profoundly inhibited (86%) (P less than 0.001) in a reversible manner, by a similar concentration (5 micrograms/ml) of KCZ. These findings suggest that KCZ has the capability to suppress human ovarian steroidogenesis similarly as in testis and adrenal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gal
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lior
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tadmor
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orly
authors.forename: Y Z
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Diamant
mesh_terms: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008184:Luteal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011284:Pregnenolone; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme; D007654:Ketoconazole