Beta-endorphin regulation of FSH-stimulated inhibin production is a component of a short loop system in testis.
Inhibin, a hormone produced by Sertoli cells in response to FSH, regulates androgen production in nearby Leydig cells. Beta-endorphin synthesized by Leydig cells under LH control is also known to regulate Sertoli function. To delineate whether beta-endorphin might constitute part of a short loop regulatory system between these two testicular cells, the effect of this opiate on inhibin secretion was examined. Beta-endorphin alone did not alter basal inhibin accumulation in primary Sertoli cell-enriched cultures, however it did significantly reduce FSH-induced inhibin production and adenylyl cyclase activity but had no effect on forskolin-stimulated inhibin accumulation or adenylyl cyclase activity. Other opioid peptides (ACTH, dMSH, methionine-enkephalin) were without effect. These observations suggest that beta-endorphin regulates inhibin secretion by inhibiting FSH receptor coupling to adenylyl cyclase.
Morris
P L
PL
Population Council, New York, NY 10021.
Vale
W W
WW
Bardin
C W
CW
D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000494:pharmacology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000502:physiology*
D005576:Colforsin; D007265:Inhibins; D000521:alpha-MSH; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases