title: Regulation of glucocorticoid metabolism in the boar testis and caput epididymidis by the gonadotrophin-cAMP signalling pathway.
abstract: In target tissues, cortisol is metabolised by two 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD) isoenzymes, namely 11βHSD1 and 11βHSD2, both of which are co-expressed in the boar testis and reproductive tract. The present study has assessed whether cortisol-cortisone metabolism in boar testis and caput epididymidis can be regulated via the gonadotrophin-cAMP signalling pathway. 11βHSD activities were measured by using a radiometric conversion assay in static tissue culture. In both testis and caput epididymidis, the net reduction of cortisone but not the net oxidation of cortisol, was significantly decreased by luteinising hormone (by 53 ± 20% and 45 ± 9%, respectively, P < 0.05), forskolin (by 60 ± 7% and 57 ± 9%, respectively, P < 0.01) and 8-bromo-cAMP (by 54 ± 4% and 64 ± 1%, respectively, P < 0.01). This suppression of 11-ketosteroid reductase activity in the boar testis by forskolin could be attenuated by the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H89. Hence, within the boar testis and the caput epididymidis, the local actions of glucocorticoids are modulated by gonadotrophin-cAMP-PKA signalling via their selective effects on the reductase activity of 11βHSD.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Signalling Group, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London, NW1 0TU, UK. vcabrerasharp@rvc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cabrera-Sharp
authors.forename: Samantha M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mirczuk
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shervill
authors.forename: Anthony E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Fowkes
mesh_terms: D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003348:Cortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D004210:Dissection; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D011874:Radiometry; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006062:Gonadotropins; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D005576:Colforsin; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D003348:Cortisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone