help button home button Endocrine Society Endocrinology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Purchase Article
Right arrow View Shopping Cart
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Valenti, S.
Right arrow Articles by Giordano, G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Valenti, S.
Right arrow Articles by Giordano, G.

Endocrinology, Vol 136, 5357-5362, Copyright © 1995 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

In vitro acute and prolonged effects of melatonin on purified rat Leydig cell steroidogenesis and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate production

S Valenti, R Guido, M Giusti and G Giordano
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University School of Medicine, Genoa, Italy.

The effects of melatonin (MLT; 4.3 pM to 4.3 microM) on rat Leydig cell steroidogenesis and cAMP production were investigated during 3-h LH (30 mIU/ml) stimulation. Having noted a dose-dependent inhibition of testosterone (T) release, we also tested MLT in the presence of the cAMP activator forskolin (1 microM), the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine (100 microM), a combination of these two, and LHRH (100 nM), a non-cAMP-mediated stimulus. Regardless of the stimulus, levels of T, androstenedione, and cAMP were reduced, whereas that of 17-hydroxyprogesterone was enhanced. Cells were also tested after prolonged exposure to MLT (215 nM for 16 h). When compared with data from cells not preincubated with MLT, cAMP and T levels were 30% higher during LH stimulation (30 mIU/ml); comparable during treatment with forskolin (1 microM), isobutylmethylxanthine (100 microM), or their combination; and reduced during LHRH (100 nM). Scatchard analysis did not reveal changes in LH receptors during prolonged MLT exposure. Our data show that MLT acutely reduces cAMP- and non-cAMP-stimulated T. This effect is linked in part to reduced cAMP production and in part to reduced 17-20-desmolase enzymatic activity, which, however, can occur even with non-cAMP-mediated stimulation. On the other hand, prolonged exposure to MLT results in sensitization of the LH-dependent adenylate cyclase activity.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
M. B. Frungieri, A. Mayerhofer, K. Zitta, O. P. Pignataro, R. S. Calandra, and S. I. Gonzalez-Calvar
Direct Effect of Melatonin on Syrian Hamster Testes: Melatonin Subtype 1a Receptors, Inhibition of Androgen Production, and Interaction with the Local Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone System
Endocrinology, March 1, 2005; 146(3): 1541 - 1552.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1995 by The Endocrine Society