title: Site of action of proteinases in the activation of steroidogenesis in rat adrenal gland.
abstract: We have investigated the effect of the proteinase inhibitors 1,10-phenantroline (OP) and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) on steroidogenesis in rat adrenal cortex. Both PMSF and OP inhibited adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)- and 8-Br cAMP-induced stimulation of corticosterone synthesis. On the contrary, arachidonic acid-induced stimulation of corticosterone synthesis was only slightly inhibited by PMSF and unchanged by OP. Intra- and extracellular cAMP levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. While PMSF did not affect neither the intra- nor the extracellular cAMP levels, OP decreased the intra- and extracellular levels of unstimulated as well as ACTH-stimulated cells. The site of action of the proteinase inhibitors was also studied by recombination of mitochondria with the different subcellular fractions in vitro. Addition of PMSF abolished the stimulation achieved by in vitro activation of cytosol by cAMP and PKA. On the other hand, OP completely inhibited the activation of mitochondria. Our results provide evidence for the involvement of proteinases in ACTH-induced stimulation of steroidogenesis in adrenal cortex both prior to the release of arachidonic acid and at the level of cholesterol transport from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Mele
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Dada
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paz
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Cymeryng
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cornejo Maciel
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Neuman
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Finkielstein
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Podestá
mesh_terms: D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D010618:Phenanthrolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010664:Phenylmethylsulfonyl Fluoride / Q000494:pharmacology; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015383:Zona Fasciculata / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006888:Hydroxycholesterols; D010618:Phenanthrolines; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; C003585:22-hydroxycholesterol; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D011374:Progesterone; D010664:Phenylmethylsulfonyl Fluoride; D011284:Pregnenolone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D010450:Endopeptidases; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine; C025205:1,10-phenanthroline; D003345:Corticosterone