title: Inhibition of steroidogenesis in Leydig cells by exogenous nitric oxide occurs independently of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (star) mRNA.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) plays multiple roles in the reproductive system. The authors studied the effect of NO on LH-stimulated steroidogenesis in primary cultures of rat Leydig cells, particularly seeking a link between inhibition of steroidogenesis and changes in expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO generator, did not alter basal testosterone, but dose-dependently reduced testosterone production in the Leydig cells stimulated by LH (100 ng/mL) at 3 h after addition of SNP. Induction of StAR mRNA transcripts could be detected as early as 1 h after the addition of LH, but no effect was detected of SNP on LH induction of StAR mRNA. StAR, then, is not affected in the inhibition by NO of LH-stimulated steroidogenesis in Leydig cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanzaki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tatsumi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamidono
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004336:Drug Antagonism; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone