title: Differential effect of corticosterone deficiency on the expression of LH, prolactin and insulin receptors on rat Leydig cells.
abstract: The adverse effects of glucocorticoid deficiency on the expression of genes encoding Leydig cell surface receptors and the response to LH/prolactin/insulin to produce testosterone production are yet to be recognized. Following metyrapone-induced corticosterone deficiency, serum corticosterone, testosterone and insulin levels decrease, whereas serum prolactin exhibits a significant increase and serum LH remains unaltered. LH binding and LH receptor mRNA expression were not altered, but a significant decrease in PRL and insulin binding and in the mRNA expressions of their receptors were observed in corticosterone-deficient rats in vivo. Corticosterone deficiency significantly decreases the Leydig cellular basal as well as hormone-stimulated testosterone production in vitro. Simultaneous administration of corticosterone prevented its deficiency-induced changes in Leydig cells both in vivo and in vitro. Our results show that metyrapone-induced corticosterone deficiency impairs Leydig cell insulin and prolactin receptors, and their mRNA expression and the response of Leydig cells to LH/PRL/insulin on testosterone production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Chandrakesan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parthasarathy
authors.forename: Karundevi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000378:metabolism; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008797:Metyrapone / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D007328:Insulin; D011974:Receptors, LH; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D003345:Corticosterone; D008797:Metyrapone