The rise in testicular androgens during the first days of treatment with an LHRH agonist in the dog can be blocked by aminoglutethimide or ketoconazole

Up to day 6 of treatment of adult dogs, daily subcutaneous administration of 50 micrograms of the LHRH agonist [D-Trp6, des-Gly-NH2-10]LHRH ethylamide causes up to a 3-fold increase in serum testosterone (T) concentration which is followed by a progressive decrease to castration levels (less than or equal to 0.2 ng/ml) at later time intervals (up to 21 days, the last time interval studied). Both aminoglutethimide and ketoconazole, two inhibitors of steroid biosynthesis, cause a 30-40% rise in serum T when administered alone. However, either drug administered in combination with the LHRH agonist completely blocks the transient rise in serum T observed when the LHRH agonist is administered alone. On the other hand, the LHRH agonist prevents the secondary rise in steroid secretion observed when either of the two inhibitors of steroid secretion is used alone. Administration of the pure antiandrogen Flutamide alone or in combination with LHRH-A and an inhibitor of steroid biosynthesis does not influence serum T levels. When the serum levels of pregnenolone, 17-OH-pregnenolone, progesterone, 17-OH-progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione (delta 4-dione), androst-5-ene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol (delta 5-diol), T, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol, androstane-3 beta. 17 beta-diol and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) are analyzed in detail, it can be seen that both aminoglutethimide and ketoconazole not only prevent the rise in serum steroids observed during the first 8 days of treatment with the LHRH agonist but that both compounds enhance the inhibitory effect of the LHRH agonist at later time intervals. A predominant inhibitory effect of ketoconazole is exerted on 17,20-desmolase activity. Aminoglutethimide has little influence on the loss of serum LH bioactivity induced by the LHRH agonist while ketoconazole stimulates the concentration of serum bioactive LH in the absence or presence of simultaneous treatment with the LHRH agonist. The present data clearly demonstrate that aminoglutethimide or ketoconazole can prevent the rise in serum androgens accompanying the first days of treatment with an LHRH agonist in the dog. Moreover, after 3 weeks of treatment, the inhibitory effect of the LHRH agonist on serum androgen levels is enhanced by addition of aminoglutethimide or ketoconazole. Moreover, Flutamide does not interfere with the inhibitory action of the LHRH agonist, aminoglutethimide or ketoconazole, thus suggesting that maximal inhibition of androgen action is likely to be achieved by a combination of these drugs.     

Androgenic activity of synthetic progestins and spironolactone in androgen-sensitive mouse mammary carcinoma (Shionogi) cells in culture

A series of compounds designed to block the action of androgens in target tissues, and called antiandrogens, have been developed for the treatment of androgen-sensitive diseases, especially prostate cancer, hirsutism, precocious puberty and deviant sexual behavior. In order to further assess the androgenic activity of these compounds, we have studied their effect on the growth of an androgen-sensitive clone of the mouse mammary carcinoma Shionogi SC-115 cells in culture. Hydroxy-flutamide did not affect the doubling time (7.40 +/- 0.09 vs 7.20 +/- 0.12 days) characteristic of these cells. However, all of the other compounds tested stimulated cell growth. Thus, in the presence of cyproterone acetate, cells had an accelerated growth rate and shorter generation time of 6.28 +/- 0.06 days (P less than 0.01). In the presence of 1 microM spironolactone, the generation time was 4.96 +/- 0.04 days (P less than 0.01). With chlormadinone acetate, the doubling time was reduced to 3.79 +/- 0.08 days while for megestrol acetate, the doubling time was 3.63 +/- 0.04 days (P less than 0.01). The synthetic progestin Medroxyprogesterone acetate had the most potent androgenic effect reducing the doubling time to 1.85 +/- 0.05 days (P less than 0.01). For comparison, dihydrotestosterone gave a doubling time of 1.76 +/- 0.07 days. When hydroxy-flutamide (5 microM) was added simultaneously with each "progestin", the ED50 value of action of all the compounds was increased in a competitive manner, thus indicating that the mitogenic effect on cell growth of all compounds is mediated by the androgen receptor. Of all the compounds used, only hydroxy-Flutamide was devoid of any androgenic activity and thus meets the criteria of a pure antiandrogen.     

Effect of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) and [D-Trp6, des-Gly-NH2(10)]LHRH ethylamide on alpha-subunit and LH beta messenger ribonucleic acid levels in rat anterior pituitary cells in culture

The effect of incubation with LHRH and its agonist [D-Trp6, des-Gly-NH2(10)]LHRH ethylamide has been measured on the concentrations of mRNAs for the common alpha-subunit of glycoprotein hormones and beta-LH in rat anterior pituitary cells in primary culture. After incubation, total RNA was analyzed by Northern blot or dot blot hybridization with alpha- and LH beta 32P-labeled cRNA probes and mRNA levels were quantified by autoradiography. Short-term treatment (4-6 h) of pituitary cells with 100 nM LHRH led to a marked stimulation of LH release but no effect was observed on alpha-subunit or LH beta mRNA levels. Longer (24-72 h) incubation periods with LHRH led to complete desensitization of the LH response to the neurohormone and induced 2- to 3-fold increases in alpha-mRNA cell content while LH beta mRNA levels remained unchanged. Maximal induction of alpha mRNA accumulation was observed with an LHRH concentration as low as 0.1 nM. Incubation with the LHRH agonist [D-Trp6, des-Gly-NH2(10)]LHRH ethylamide for 24-72 h also increased alpha mRNA but did not modify LH-beta mRNA levels. It is concluded that long-term exposure of anterior pituitary cells to LHRH or to an LHRH agonist positively regulates alpha-subunit gene expression in the absence of change in LH beta mRNA levels. This observation can provide an explanation for the high plasma levels of free alpha-subunits found in patients treated chronically with LHRH agonists.     

Distribution of corticotropin-releasing factor in ovine brain determined by radioimmunoassay

We have developed and used a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay to demonstrate the presence of CRF-like immunoreactivity in extra-hypothalamic areas of ovine brain. Synthetic CRF displaced antibody bound tracer at an ED50 value of 200 pg and there was no cross-reactivity with LHRH, TRH, ACTH, beta-endorphin and several other peptides. Displacement of bound 125I-CRF by brain extracts exhibited curves parallel to synthetic CRF standards. Highest concentrations (1 ng/mg tissue) of CRF-like immunoreactivity were found in the median eminence but surprisingly, high concentrations of CRF-like immunoreactivity were found in frontal, parietal, occipital and particularly temporal areas of cerebral cortex. Much lower concentrations were found in other brain areas including the basal ganglia, limbic system and brain stem.     

Structure-function relationships and molecular genetics of the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene family

The isoenzymes of the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/5-ene-4-ene-isomerase (3β-HSD) gene family catalyse the transformation of all 5-ene-3β-hydroxysteroids into the corresponding 4-ene-3-keto-steroids and are responsible for the interconversion of 3β-hydroxy- and 3-keto-5-androstane steroids. The two human 3β-HSD genes and the three related pseudogenes are located on the chromosome 1p13.1 region, close to the centromeric marker D1Z5. The 3β-HSD isoenzymes prefer NAD⁺ to NADP⁺ as cofactor with the exception of the rat liver type III and mouse kidney type IV, which both prefer NADPH as cofactor for their specific 3-ketosteroid reductase activity due to the presence of Tyr³⁶ in the rat type III and of Phe³⁶ in mouse type IV enzymes instead of Asp³⁶ found in other 3β-HSD isoenzymes. The rat types I and IV, bovine and guinea pig 3β-HSD proteins possess an intrinsic 17β-HSD activity psecific to 5-androstane 17β-ol steroids, thus suggesting that such “secondary” activity is specifically responsible for controlling the bioavailability of the active androgen DHT. To elucidate the molecular basis of classical form of 3β-HSD deficiency, the structures of the types I and II 3β-HSD genes in 12 male pseudohermaphrodite 3β-HSD deficient patients as well as in four female patients were analyzed. The 14 different point mutations characterized were all detected in the type II 3β-HSD gene, which is the gene predominantly expressed in the adrenals and gonads, while no mutation was detected in the type I 3β-HSD gene predominantly expressed in the placenta and peripheral tissues. The mutant type II 3β-HSD enzymes carrying mutations detected in patients affected by the salt-losing form exhibit no detectable activity in intact transfected cells, at the exception of L108W and P186L proteins, which have some residual activity (1%). Mutations found in nonsalt-loser patients have some residual activity ranging from 1 to 10% compared to the wild-type enzyme. Characterization of mutant proteins provides unique information on the structure-function relationships of the 3β-HSD superfamily.     

Epidermal growth factor: structure, location, phosphorylation and regulation of its receptor

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a Mr 6045 polypeptide first characterized for its ability to stimulate mitogenesis in epidermal and epithelial cells. The first step in the action of the growth factor is its binding to specific, high affinity membrane receptors. These receptors have been studied in a number of tissues and cell culture lines. The level of EGF receptors is modulated by many agents. EGF down-regulates its receptor. In addition, the number of EGF receptors is decreased by other growth factors (platelet-derived growth factor; transforming growth factor), by many tumor promoters and by viral transformation. Several hormones also can regulate EGF binding in its target tissues.     

Extremely rapid degradation of [3H] methionine-enkephalin by various rat tissues in vivo and in vitro

Thirty sec after the intrajugular injection of [³H] methionine-enkephalin (met-enkephalin) in the rat, the radioactivity was already distributed in an apparent volume of 53 ml and the metabolic clearance rate calculated from the characteristics of the plasma disappearance curve was 10 ml/min. As shown by partition chromatography plasma extracts obtained 15 sec after injection of [³H] met-enkephalin, only 5% of the total radioactivity migrated as the intact pentapeptide, while no detectable intact pentapeptide remained 2 min after injection, thus indicating a half-life of [³H] met-enkephalin of the order of 2 to 4 sec. Incubation of rat cerebral tissue with [³H] met-enkephalin indicates that the first step in the breakdown of met-enkephalin in both plasma and brain tissue is cleavage of the Tyr-Gly amide bond. These data offer an explanation for the low activity of met-enkephalin after intraventricular or intravenous administration.     

Corticotropin-releasing factor stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in the anterior pituitary gland

Ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in rat anterior pituitary homogenate at an ED₅₀ value of 70 nM. GTP increases the stimulatory effect of CRF on [³²P] cyclic AMP formation in a rat adenohypophysial particulate fraction and in bovine anterior pituitary plasma membranes. The present data show that CRF stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in the anterior pituitary gland at least partly through a guanyl nucleotide-dependent mechanism.     

Immunohistochemical localization of beta-LPH in the human hypothalamus.

In order to establish the presence of β-LPH and to clearly identify the nervous structures containing β-LPH in the human hypothalamus, an immunohistochemical localization of β-LPH was performed in this tissue. The immunohistochemical technique involved use of a specific antiserum to human β-LPH and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex. Immunostained neuronal cell bodies were observed in the arcuate nucleus whereas β-LPH-positive nervous fibers could be detected in a large area extending rostro-caudally from the anterior part of the paraventricular nucleus up to the mammillary bodies. Staining was completely abolished by previous immunoabsorption with β-LPH while β-endorphin and ovine γ-LPH_1–47 only partially prevented immunostaining. Although it cannot be excluded that the precursor 31K molecule, β-LPH_1–58 and/or β-endorphin are detected by the immunostaining, it is likely that β-LPH is at least partly responsible for the positive reaction.