title: Characterization of adrenergic control of the Leydig cell steroidogenesis: identification of both stimulatory and inhibitory components.
abstract: Percoll-purified Leydig cells were studied in vitro in order to evaluate the effect of adrenaline on testosterone (T) secretion. Adrenaline enhanced the basal and potentiated the hCG-induced T release. A similar effect was also obtained with the beta 2-agonist, salbutamol. Although phenylephrine, an alpha 1-agonist, did not alter the basal T secretion, it enhanced hCG-mediated T secretion. Para-aminoclonidine, an alpha 2-agonist, decreased the basal T release without altering the hCG-stimulated T release. These data demonstrate that either inhibitory or stimulatory effects on T release can be obtained and that they depend on the adrenoreceptor subtype involved.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Favaretto
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Valença
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antunes-Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000502:physiology*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology*; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha / Q000502:physiology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011942:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D013739:Testosterone; D004837:Epinephrine