Steroidogenic capabilities of various compartments of rat ovarian follicles in culture

The production of progesterone, estrogen and androgen as well as the metabolism of radiolabelled progesterone by various cellular components of rat ovarian follicles were studied. Granulosa (G), theca (T), recombined granulosa plus theca (G+T) and intact follicular wall (FW) of ovaries from immature rats treated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (8 IU) were cultured for 24 h in the presence or absence of [4-14C]progesterone. The estrogen and androgen accumulation when calculated per follicle was several fold greater in FW than in G, T, or G+T preparations. The conversion of radiolabelled progesterone to its identified C21 catabolites (20 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one and 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one) was significantly lower in FW than in G+T incubations. Conversely, the metabolism of radiolabelled progesterone to androsterone was several fold greater in FW than in G+T incubations. Addition of hydroxyflutamide to FW incubations significantly decreased estrogen production and increased the conversion of radiolabelled progesterone to androsterone. Estrogen production by follicular wall may be enhanced by androgenic stimulation of aromatase activity as well as by a structure-dependent factor(s) of a yet unknown nature, both of which may decrease progesterone catabolism to biologically inactive progestins while promoting progesterone conversion to androgens and eventually to estrogens.

[Anti-androgenic activity of various substituted carboxyanilides]

The synthesis of 10 substituted carboxy anilides was performed and their antiandrogenic activity was investigated. It was shown, that 4-nitro-3-trifluoro-methyl-alpha-hydroxy-isobutyranilide, 4-nitro-3-trifluoro-methyl-isobutyranilide and 4-nitro-3-trifluoro-methyl-ethyl-methyl acetanilide exert the most pronounced antiandrogenic effects in experimental immature castrated male rats, given substituted doses of testosterone propionate. The antiandrogenic activity is mainly caused by the presence of trifluoro-methyl- and nitro-groups in meta- and para-positions of anilide benzene ring, as well as by hydroxyl group and hydrogen atom presence in alpha-carbon atom of the molecule alkyl moiety. A possible use of non-steroid antiandrogens for studying androgen mechanism of action and treating androgen-dependent diseases is discussed.

Effect of androgens on the ovarian morphology of the hypophysectomized rat

Experiments were designed to study the short-term effects of androgens on ovarian follicular morphology in immature, hypophysectomized rats. Rats were given 1 mg diethylstilbestrol (DES) daily for 5 days. On the fifth day, they were treated with 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone (T), and flutamide metabolite, alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-2-methyl-4'-nitro-m-lactotoluidide (FM) alone and in combination and killed 24 hr later. One group of rats received DES alone. Ovarian serial sections (5 mum) were observed in each treatment for the presence of pyknotic nuclei as an index of atresia. Diameter of the follicles was measured, a percentage of atretic follicles was calculated, and the data were analyzed for all size follicles, follicles 150 mum or less (small), and follicles measuring over 150 mum (large). The results show that DHT and DHT plus T increased follicular atresia when all follicle sizes were considered. None of the treatments significantly changed follicular atresia in small follicles. In large follicles, both DHT and T increased follicular atresia. Furthermore, FM prevented T-induced atresia while by itself FM had no effect on follicular morphology. That the FM decreased the action of T in promoting atresia adds support to the conclusion that T promotes atresia by inhibiting the follicular growth promoting action of DES in the ovary. Also, this study shows that DHT promotes follicular atresia.

Effect of alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-2-methyl-4'-nitro-m-lactotoluidide (Sch 16423) on serum testosterone and LH in rats

Administration of Sch 16423 to intact male rats (5 mg/day s.c. for 7 days) resulted in a rapid and dramatic rise in the serum concentrations of LH and testosterone. This suggests that this metabolite of flutamide is the active antiandrogenic agent.

Reduction of granulosa cell progesterone secretion in vitro by intraovarian implants of antiandrogen

Intra-ovarian Silastic implants containing the antiandrogen, Flutamide, or its active metabolite, reduced the level of progesterone secretion in porcine granulosa cell cultures by approximately 50%. These results complement recent observations in vitro suggesting a role for androgen in granulosa cell steroidogenesis during follicular development.

Androgenic stimulation of progesterone production by granulosa cells from preantral ovarian follicles: further in vitro studies using replicate cell cultures

The influence of testosterone (T) on progesterone (P) production by isolated rat ovarian granulosa cells was studied in vitro using a new replicate culture technique. Preantral granulosa cells from ovaries of estrogen-primed hypophysectomized immature female rats were cultured in the presence of graded concentrations of T, diethylstilbestrol (DES), cyproterone acetate (CPA), flutamide and the hydroxylated derivative of flutamide, Sch 16423. The accumulation of P in medium collected from granulosa cell cultures was measured by specific radioimmunoassay. Maximal P production by cultured granulosa cells was attained during the second day of culture and declined markedly thereafter. The presence of 10(-9), 10(-8) or 10(-7)M T elicited increases in P production 2.4, 8 and 11 times that of controls, respectively, during the initial 48 h of culture. Each concentration of T elicited enhanced P production within the first 24 h of culture. Granulosa cells cultured in control medium for 2 days did not respond to 10(-7)M T during the subsequent 3 days. DES at a high concentration in the medium (10(-5)M) markedly suppressed the response to 10(-9) and 10(-8)M T. At a lower concentration (10(-9)M) DES significantly enhanced the stimulatory effect of 10(-9)M T but did not alter the response to higher concentrations of T. Neither high nor low concentrations of DES influenced P production in response to 10(-7) M T. The stimulatory effects of T on P production were suppressed in the presence of a 100-fold molar excess of the anti-androgens, CPA or Sch 16423. The present data indicate that androgenic stimulation of P production by preantral granulosa cells is a specific receptor mediated event which is modulated by the presence of estrogen in vitro. It is suggested that androgen-responsive P production is a functional capacity which granulosa cells acquire at a very early stage of hormonal differentiation and may be of physiological consequence in the intraovarian control of follicular maturation in vivo.

Percutaneous penetration and metabolism of topical (14C)flutamide in men

This study was designed to determine the fate of the nonsteroid antiandrogen flutamide in men following a single 6-hr topical application of 5 mg 14C-labeled drug dissolved in 50% ethanol/50% propylene glycol. Analysis of 0-120 hr urine shows at least 16% of the applied flutamide is absorbed. Fifty-six percent of the dose is recovered from the site of application with cotton swabs moistened with 50% ethanol/50% propylene glycol. Flutamide plasma levels peak in 4 to 6 hr at about 1.3 ng/ml and then decline rapidly to about 0.08 ng/ml 24 hr after application. Only 13% of plasma 14C is associated with flutamide 6 hr after drug application. There are at least 10 plasma metabolites, of which 6 have been tentatively identified. These are alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-4'-amino-m-acetotoluidide (A); alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-4'-amino-2-methyl-m-lactotoluidide (B); alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-4'-nitro-m-acetotoluidide (C); alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-2-methyl-4'-nitro-m-lactotoluidide (D); alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-4'-amino-2-methyl-m-propionotoluidide (E); and alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-6-nitro-m-toluidine (F). (D) is the major plasma metabolite, and its concentration exceeds flutamide's between 8 and 24 hr after drug. All the plasma metabolites are found in 0-24 hr urine in minor amounts. An additional metabolite, alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-amino-5-nitro-p-cresol (G), accounts for 27% of urine 14C.

Concepts and limitations in the application of radiolabeled antiandrogens, estrogens, or androgens as isotopic scanning agents for the prostate

The distribution of labeled antiandrogens, estrogens, and androgens has been studied in the rat and dog to elucidate the principles and limitations encountered when these agents are used in radioscanning the prostate. The bulk of the label is rapidly cleared in the biliary secretions and in the urine. The concentration of label in the prostate in comparison to other tissues such as the intestines limits the application of these agents in radioscanning of the prostate. The tissue distributions were confirmed by total body radioscans of rats and dogs receiving a labeled 3'-iodinated analog of the antiandrogen flutamide (Sch 13521 or 3'-trifluoromethyl-4'-nitroisobutyranilide).