Catecholamines inhibit steroidogenesis by cultured porcine thecal cells

Paul Morley, Franco R. Calaresu, David T. Armstrong
1990 FEBS Letters  
The ovaries of many species contain catecholamines and /&adrenergic receptors. The present studies were done to determine if catecholamines play a role in the regulation of androgen production by porcine theta cells. Basal and luteinizing hormone (LH)-stimulated androstenedione production was significantly inhibited by noradrenaline and isoproterenol, The inhibitory effects were dose-dependent and were enhauced when the cultures contained the carboxy-O-methyl transferase inhibitor, U-0521. The
more » ... nhibitory effect of isoproterenol was reversed by the /%adrenergic antagonist, metoprolol. Isoproterenol caused a generalized inhibition of LH-stimulated steroidogenesis, decreasing the accumulation of pregnenolone, progesterone, androstenedione and estradiol in the culture medium. These studies suggest that catecholamines may be important regulators of thecal androgen production.
doi:10.1016/0014-5793(90)81441-p pmid:2262003 fatcat:2cfnb6norzbkvlnjq5m5cv3lma