title: Beta 2-adrenergic stimulation of androgen production by cultured mouse testicular interstitial cells.
abstract: The present studies characterized the beta-receptor subtype involved in androgen production by cultured mouse testicular interstitial cells and explored the possible stimulation of androgen release by alpha-adrenergic agonists. During a 3-hour incubation period, LH and a non-specific beta-adrenergic agonist, L-isoproterenol steadily increased androgen production with a similar time-course. Isoproterenol, epinephrine, norepinephrine and a specific beta 2-receptor agonist, salbutamol stimulated androgen release in a concentration-dependent manner. The concentrations of the agonists required for half-maximum stimulation (EC50) were approximately 1 nM (isoproterenol), 8 nM (epinephrine), 9 nM (salbutamol) and 2 microM (norepinephrine) giving an order of potency of isoproterenol greater than epinephrine = salbutamol much greater than norepinephrine. L- but not the D-isomer of isoproterenol induced androgen production. A non-selective beta-receptor antagonist, propranolol, abolished androgen production induced by isoproterenol. A selective beta 2-receptor antagonist ICI 118,551 inhibited the isoproterenol effect in a concentration-dependent manner with half-maximum inhibition (IC50) at approximately 23 nM. The beta 1-receptor antagonists, metoprolol and atenolol had no effect on isoproterenol-induced androgen release. The stimulatory effect of norepinephrine (an alpha- and beta-agonist) was completely (100%) abolished by propranolol, unaffected by the alpha-antagonist phentolamine and only partially (35%) inhibited by phenoxybenzamine. Phenoxybenzamine and the alpha 2-agonist, clonidine reduced basal androgen production. These studies indicate that androgen production by primary cultures of mouse testicular interstitial cells occurs exclusively via the beta 2-receptor subtype and that alpha-receptor agonists do not stimulate androgen release by these cells.
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000420:Albuterol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D011412:Propanolamines; C026777:ICI 118551; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D011433:Propranolol; D008790:Metoprolol; D007545:Isoproterenol; D000420:Albuterol