Pregnenolone

About: Pregnenolone is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3539 publications have been published within this topic receiving 126444 citations. The topic is also known as: (3b)-3-hydroxy-Pregn-5-en-20-one & 3-Hydroxypregn-5-en-20-one.

Metabolism of 25-Hydroxycholesterol by Rat Luteal Mitochondria and Dispersed Cells*

Abstract: The metabolism of 25-hydroxycholesterol 25- OH-cholesterol) to progestins by mitochondria and dispersed cells prepared from ovaries of PMSG-hCG-primed rats was studied. Mitochondria converted [3H]25-OH-cholesterol into [3H]pregnenolone and [3H]progesterone. Unlabeled 25-OH-cholesterol also stimulated mitochondrial steroidogenesis in a dosedependent, saturable fashion. A direct relationship between rates of steroid synthesis in the presence of 25-OH-cholesterol and mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 levels was found. Although steroid production and cytochrome P-450 content per milligram protein were higher in mitochondria prepared from ovaries removed on day 8 post hCG than on either day 1 or day 14, steroid production per nanomole cytochrome P-450 was similar. Treatment of rats with hCG 1 h before killing significantly increased mitochondrial steroid synthesis from endogenous substrate but had no effect on metabolism of 25-OH-cholesterol. Dispersed cells increased progestin production by 6-fold when incubated...

Mitotic and neurogenic effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on human neural stem cell cultures derived from the fetal cortex

Abstract: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a neurosteroid with potential effects on neurogenesis and neuronal survival in humans. However, most studies on DHEA have been performed in rodents, and there is little direct evidence for biological effects on the human nervous system. Furthermore, the mechanism of its action is unknown. Here, we show that DHEA significantly increased the growth rates of human neural stem cells derived from the fetal cortex and grown with both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). However, it had no effect on cultures grown in either factor alone, suggesting a specific action on the EGF/LIF-responsive cell. Precursors of DHEA such as pregnenolone or six of its major metabolites, had no significant effect on proliferation rates. DHEA did not alter the small number ( 95%) of nestin-positive precursors. However, the number of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells, its mRNA, and protein were significantly increased by DHEA. We found both N-methyl-d-aspartate and sigma 1 antagonists, but not GABA antagonists, could completely eliminate the effects of DHEA on stem cell proliferation. Finally we asked whether the EGF/LIF/DHEA-responsive stem cells had an increased potential for neurogenesis and found a 29% increase in neuronal production when compared to cultures grown in EGF/LIF alone. Together these data suggest that DHEA is involved in the maintenance and division of human neural stem cells. Given the wide availability of this neurosteroid, this finding has important implications for future use.

Modulation of the activity of human 17 alpha-hydroxylase-17,20-lyase (CYP17) by cytochrome b5: endocrinological and mechanistic implications.

Abstract: Using NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase as electron donor the homogeneous pig 17 alpha-hydroxylase-17,20-lyase (CYP17) was shown to catalyse the conversion of delta 5, as well as delta 4, steroids (pregnenolone and progesterone respectively) predominantly into the corresponding 17 alpha-hydroxylated products. The latter were then cleaved by the lyase (desmolase) activity of the enzyme into androgens. Cytochrome b5 stimulated both these activities, but its most noticeable effect was on the formation of delta 16-steroids, which compulsorily required the presence of cytochrome b5. These results on the pig enzyme confirm the original findings [Nakajin, Takahashi, Shinoda and Hall (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 132, 708-713]. The human CYP17 expressed in Escherichia coli [Imai, Globerman, Gertner, Kagawa and Waterman (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 19681-19689] was also purified to homogeneity and was found to catalyse the hydroxylation of pregnenolone and progesterone without requiring cytochrome b5. Like the pig CYP17, the human CYP17 also catalysed the cytochrome b5-dependent direct cleavage of pregnenolone into the delta 5,16-steroid, but unlike it the human enzyme did not cleave progesterone at all. 17 alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone was, however, cleaved into the corresponding androgen but only in the presence of cytochrome b5. 17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone was a poor substrate for the human CYP17; although it was converted into androstenedione in the presence of cytochrome b5 its K(m) was 5 times higher and Vmax. 2.6 times lower than those for the hydroxylation of progesterone. The endocrinological and mechanistic implications of these results are discussed.

Bovine theca and granulosa cells interact to promote androgen production.

Abstract: Pieces of theca interna or follicle wall (theca interna + attached granulosa cells), obtained from bovine preovulatory follicles prior to the surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) and cultured for 3 days, secreted androstenedione. Luteinizing hormone, but not follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), increased production of androstenedione 3 to 4-fold. In both the presence and absence of LH, follicle wall preparations secreted about 4-fold more androstenedione than did equivalent amounts of theca interna tissue. Isolated granulosa cells produced only negligible quantities of androstenedione, which suggests that they may contribute to the greater production of androstenedione by follicle wall by supplying progestin precursor to the theca cells. The addition of pregnenolone or progesterone to isolated theca interna increased the secretion of androstenedione, but pregnenolone was by far the more effective precursor. This suggested that the delta 5 (delta 5) pathway is the preferred pathway for androstenedione synthesis by bovine theca cells and that granulosa cells might supply progestin precursor in the form of pregnenolone. Follicle wall and granulosa cell cultures secreted 2 and 7 times more pregnenolone, respectively, than did theca cultures. Luteinizing hormone, but not FSH, increased production of pregnenolone by the follicle wall, whereas the gonadotropins had no effect on secretion by either granulosa or theca cells. Since exogenous testosterone enhanced the production of pregnenolone by granulosa cells, thecal androgen (which is stimulated by LH) may increase the ability of granulosa cells to make pregnenolone and explain the stimulatory effect of LH on pregnenolone secretion by follicle wall.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Trophic actions of human somatomedin C/insulin-like growth factor I on ovarian cells: in vitro studies with swine granulosa cells.

Abstract: We have investigated the responsiveness of swine granulosa cells to somatomedin C/insulin-like growth factor I (IGF I) under serum-free conditions in vitro. Somatomedin C/IGFI (>80% pure) exerted dose-dependent stimulatory effects on the production of progesterone and its reduced metabolite, 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one. A 50-fold stimulation of progesterone production could be observed after 48-96 h of hormone treatment. These effects were not mimicked by platelet-xderived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, desoctapeptide insulin, or porcine relaxin. The stimulatory action of somatomedin C/IGF I was not attributable to changes in cell protein or DNA content or cell number and reflected enhanced steroidogenesis per se rather than simply release of stored progesterone. In addition, augmented progesterone production was accompanied by increased biosynthesis of its precursor, pregnenolone, measured in the presence of trilostane to block 3/3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity....