title: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide regulates rat Leydig cell function in vitro.
abstract: The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of both pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-27 and PACAP-38 on testosterone, cAMP and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production by purified rat Leyding cells. Because PACAP-38 shares homology with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), the effects of VIP and both PACAP and VIP receptor antagonists on testicular steroidogenesis were also examined. PACAP-38 potentiated testosterone response to a low effective dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), while PACAP-27 was without effect. Furthermore, PACAP-38 amplified testosterone response to a wide concentration range of hCG until the submaximal dose. VIP evoked a dose-dependent increase of both basal and hCG-induced testosterone production. PACAP potentiation of steroidogenesis was nullified in the presence of a PACAP antagonist, but was not modified by a VIP antagonist. Moreover, while VIP antagonist blunted testosterone response to VIP, PACAP antagonist was without effect. Increasing concentrations of PACAP-38 evoked a dose-response enhancement of both cAMP and PGE2 production. However, this fatty acid is not involved in PACAP activity, as a prostaglandin blocker indomethacin did not modify the effect of PACAP on steroidogenesis. Taken together these findings: (i) demonstrate that PACAP-38 is able to activate both cAMP- and phosphatidylinositol-dependent mechanisms in Leydig cells; (ii) indicate that the peptide exerts an amplificatory action on testicular steroidogenesis stimulated by hCG and that this activity is receptor-mediated, as it is prevented by a PACAP receptor antagonist; (iii) predict the existence of specific PACAP receptors (type 1 binding sites) on Leydig cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pathophysiology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romanelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fillo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isidori
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002474:Cell-Free System; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051236:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I; D011979:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C495403:Adcyap1 protein, rat; D009479:Neuropeptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051236:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I; D011979:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone; D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D013739:Testosterone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D015232:Dinoprostone