title: Stimulatory effect of insulin on 5alpha-reductase type 1 (SRD5A1) expression through an Akt-dependent pathway in ovarian granulosa cells.
abstract: Elevated levels of 5α-reduced androgens have been shown to be associated with hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia, the leading causes of ovulatory dysfunction in women. 5α-Dihydrotestosterone reduces ovarian granulosa cell proliferation by inhibiting FSH-mediated mitogenic signaling pathways. The present study examined the effect of insulin on 5α-reductase, the enzyme that catalyses the conversion of androgens to their 5α-derivatives. Granulosa cells isolated from immature rat ovaries were cultured in serum-free, phenol red-free DMEM-F12 media and treated with different doses of insulin (0, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 μg/ml) for different time intervals up to 12 h. The expression of 5α-reductase type 1 mRNA, the predominant isoform found in granulosa cells, showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in response to the insulin treatment up to 12 h compared with control. The catalytic activity of 5α-reductase enzyme was also stimulated in a dose-depended manner (P<0.05). Inhibiting the Akt-dependent signaling pathway abolished the insulin-mediated increase in 5α-reductase mRNA expression, whereas inhibition of the ERK-dependent pathway had no effect. The dose-dependent increase in 5α-reductase mRNA expression as well as catalytic activity seen in response to insulin treatment was also demonstrated in the human granulosa cell line (KGN). In addition to increased mRNA expression, a dose-dependent increase in 5α-reductase protein expression in response to insulin was also seen in KGN cells, which corroborated well with that of mRNA expression. These results suggest that elevated levels of 5α-reduced androgens seen in hyperinsulinemic conditions might be explained on the basis of a stimulatory effect of insulin on 5α-reductase in granulosa cells. The elevated levels of these metabolites, in turn, might adversely affect growth and proliferation of granulosa cells, thereby impairing follicle growth and ovulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 6428 Medical Science I, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Pradeep P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Kayampilly
authors.forename: Brett L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Wanamaker
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Carrie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: K M J
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Menon
mesh_terms: D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase; C548472:Srd5a1 protein, rat; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt
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