Effects of chronic hypogonadism on corticosterone secretion and cyclic AMP production in male rat adrenocortical cells.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the secretion of corticosterone (CCS) both in vivo and in vitro during different intervals after orchidectomy in male rats.


METHODS
Three- and 12-month-old rats had been orchidectomized 0, 3, 6, or 9 months before decapitation.


RESULTS
Orchidectomy increased the concentrations of plasma CCS, the basal release of CCS, and the adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) production in rat zona fasciculata reticularis (ZFR) cells. The forskolin/3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine-stimulated releases of CCS and cAMP production by ZFR cells were higher in rats with chronic hypogonadism. The CCS release from ZFR cells of orchidectomized rat was not altered by 8-bromo-cAMP treatment. Orchidectomy enhanced the stimulatory effect of deoxycorticosterone on CCS release in ZFR cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that orchidectomy-related increases of CCS secretion in rats are associated with an increase of adenylate cyclase activity, cAMP generation, and 11-beta-hydroxylase activity in ZFR cells.
Lo
Ming-Jae
MJ
Department of Physical Therapy, Hungkuang University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC. lo@sunrise.hk.edu.tw
Kau
Mei-Mei
MM
Wang
Paulus S
PS
D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D015383:Zona Fasciculata / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D013739:Testosterone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D003345:Corticosterone