title: Effects of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on rat testicular steroidogenesis in vitro.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rat atrial-peptide type II (rAP-II) on testicular steroidogenesis by isolated adult rat Leydig cells. rAP-II stimulates testosterone secretion. The maximal stimulatory effects of rAP-II on testosterone production occurred at the dose of 10(-11) M. At the same dose this peptide stimulates androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate production, two important testosterone precursors of delta-4 and delta-5 steroidogenetic pathways, respectively. At higher doses, 10(-9) and 10(-7) M, the stimulatory effect of rAP-II on testosterone secretion is strongly declined, on androstenedione secretion is abolished, whereas on dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate secretion remains unaffected. These data suggest that rAP-II at low doses exerts a stimulatory effect on the early steroidogenetic step by isolated adult rat Leydig cells. At higher doses this peptide seems to influence the testicular steroidogenesis, probably exerting a limiting reaction step involving the 3-beta-OH-steroid-dehydrogenase activity.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Patologia Medica III, Università di Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foresta
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mioni
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: C472610:atrial natriuretic peptide, rat; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor