Androgenic alteration in pathways of C19-steroid metabolism by cultured rat granulosa cells.
Pretreatment of rat granulosa cells with androgens altered the subsequent metabolism of [4-14C]testosterone in vitro. In cells pretreated with testosterone or 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, the accumulation of radiolabeled 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol decreased by 40% and 36%, respectively, when compared with control, while the levels of androstenedione increased by 64% and 54%, respectively. For comparison, pretreatment with 0.5 microM 17 beta-estradiol failed to affect the level of radioactivity incorporated into all three major metabolites. In other experiments, granulosa cells were incubated in the presence of 0.5 microM [4-14C]dihydrotestosterone. While 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol was decreased slightly by pretreatment with testosterone or 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, radiolabeled androsterone was increased significantly. These data suggest a possible modulatory action of androgens on ovarian 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and/or 5 alpha-reductase activity.
D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D000728:Androgens; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone