title: Self-suppression of corticosteroidogenesis: evidence for a role of adrenal 5 alpha-reductase.
abstract: Exogenous corticosterone (B), the natural glucocorticoid product of rats, suppressed endogenous B production of isolated rat adrenocortical cells induced by alpha ACTH-(1-24), [9-tryptophan (O-nitrophenylsulfenyl)]ACTH-(1-24) [( Trp (Nps)9]ACTH-(1-24], and cAMP as well as pregnenolone supported-steroidogenesis. This self-suppression occurred within 2 h. It was dependent on the concentration of exogenous B. However, self-suppression did not alter the half-maximal steroidogenic concentration (ED50) of each steroidogenic agent. In addition, exogenous B did not suppress ACTH-induced cAMP production or gross protein synthesis, as measured by leucine incorporation into bulk cellular proteins. These results with isolated cells suggested at least two mechanisms for self-suppression: 1) exogenous B inhibited steroidogenic steps in a noncompetitive manner, and/or 2) exogenous B induced B degradation. In this study we examined the effect of exogenous B on the degradation of B. Accordingly, we measured the adrenal 5 alpha-reductase activity (5 alpha RA) of cell homogenates prepared from treated cells. Isolated adrenocortical cells were incubated for 2 h with alpha ACTH-(1-24), ovine PRL (oPRL), and B. They were then homogenized and assayed for 5 alpha RA, as indicated by the disappearance of exogenous B, as shown by RIA. In addition, the percentage of exogenous tritium-labeled B [( 3H]B) converted to 5 alpha-dihydrocorticosterone (DHB), the principal reduced metabolite of B, was determined by TLC. Isolated adrenocortical cells from intact rats showed insignificant 5 alpha RA and DHB formation when incubated with or without alpha ACTH-(1-24) and with or without oPRL. However, with exogenous B, there was significant 5 alpha RA and DHB formation. oPRL plus B decreased DHB formation. The effects of B and oPRL were more demonstrable with cells from hypophysectomized rats. These cells exhibited high 5 alpha RA and DHB formation; exogenous B increased these values, whereas oPRL acutely reversed the effects of hypophysectomy and exogenous B. In other work avoiding cell homogenization, exogenous B suppressed ACTH-induced B accumulation and increased DHB formation in intact cell suspensions from intact rats and intact male domestic fowl. Furthermore, exogenous B increased the conversion of [3H] pregnenolone to DHB in intact cell suspensions from intact rats, showing that B synthesized de novo as well as exogenous B can be degraded during self-suppression. These data indicate that acute self-suppression of corticosteroidogenesis is at least partly mediated by an increase in 5 alpha RA.
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D008297:Male; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011200:Poultry; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C019936:corticosterone-5 alpha-reductase; D003345:Corticosterone