Stimulation of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate production in rat Sertoli cells by alpha-melanotropin-stimulating hormone (alpha MSH) and des-acetyl alpha MSH.
Proopiomelanocortin and its derivative peptides alpha MSH and beta-endorphin are produced by Leydig cells. beta-Endorphin or another testicular opiate is believed to suppress Sertoli cell hypertrophy. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of another proopiomelanocortin-derived peptide on Sertoli cells. The activities of both alpha MSH and des-acetyl alpha MSH have been compared, since this latter peptide has been identified in testicular extracts. Both alpha MSH and des-acetyl alpha MSH stimulated cAMP accumulation in the media of primary Sertoli cell cultures when incubated in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, FSH or forskolin. Both peptides shifted the FSH dose-response curve to the left, making the cells more sensitive to this gonadotropin. The apparent potencies of alpha MSH and its des-acetyl derivative, as measured in Sertoli cells, were similar. We conclude that the MSHs are one of a group of modulators regulating Sertoli cells via the cAMP system, and Sertoli cells are equally responsive to alpha MSH and des-acetyl alpha MSH, unlike central nervous system and melanocytes which show differential responses to these peptides.
Boitani
C
C
Mather
J P
JP
Bardin
C W
CW
D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004723:Endorphins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D001615:beta-Endorphin
D004723:Endorphins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D005576:Colforsin; D000521:alpha-MSH; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine