[Testosterone inhibits the contractile responses to phenylephrine associated with the release of intracellular calcium in rat aorta].
Using endothelium-denuded rat aortic rings incubated in Ca2+ -free solution, we assessed the ability of testosterone to influence the contractile effect of phenylephrine, and the increase in resting tone (IRT) associated with Ca2+ ability to cross the plasma membrane. The addition of testosterone [10(-5)-10(-4) 5 min before phenylephrine [10(-6) M], inhibited both phenylephrine-induced contraction and IRT. These changes were not affected by cycloheximide (10(-5) M; a protein synthesis inhibitor of), flutamide (10(-5) M; an androgenic receptor antagonist), or by adding aminoglutethimide (10(-5) M; an aromatase inhibitor). Testosterone also blocked the contractile response to serotonin [10(-5) M] but not to caffeine [10(-2) M]. On the other hand, testosterone inhibited the contractile responses to cyclopiazonic acid (10(-6) M; a selective Ca2+ -ATPase inhibitor) or ryanodine (10(-5 M; an activator of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ -release channels) associated with capacitative Ca2+ influx through non-L-type Ca2+ channels. These data suggest that by acting on the cellular membrane, testosterone interferes with the signal transduction pathway of G(q-11) protein-coupled receptors, and inhibits capacitative Ca2+ influx through both L-type and non-L-type Ca2+ channels. These effects are non-genomic, non-mediated by the intracellular androgen receptor, and not due to the conversion of testosterone to estrogens.
Castillo
Carlos
C
Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación de la Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México. drcarloscastillo@esmas.com
Castillo
Enrique F
EF
López
Jorge
J
López
Ruth M
RM
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002477:Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D010656:Phenylephrine; D013739:Testosterone; D002118:Calcium