title: Melatonin does not affect in vitro secretion of testosterone in white-footed mouse testis.
abstract: There is evidence that melatonin may exert its antigonadal effect by acting in the gonad to inhibit steroidogenesis. To explore this possibility a hormonally sensitive in vitro system of dispersed Peromyscus leucopus testis was used to assess the effects of melatonin on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)- and dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP)-stimulated secretion of testosterone (T). At near-maximally stimulating doses of hCG and dbcAMP, melatonin in concentrations of 2 x 10(-12) M to 2 x 10(-7) M did not affect the rate of secretion of T in cells from active or regressed testes. These results do not support the idea that melatonin helps to regulate seasonal reproduction by acting in the testes to inhibit steroidogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, OH 44242.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Knotts
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Bruot
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Glass
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013739:Testosterone; D003994:Bucladesine; D008550:Melatonin