Contribution of microsomal cytochrome b5 electron transport system coupled with delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase to androgen synthesis from progesterone

Regulation of microsomal P450, redox partner proteins, and steroidogenesis in the developing testes of the neonatal pig

Testicular growth and plasma androgen concentrations increase markedly in the first weeks of neonatal life of pigs. The regulation of steroidogenesis through this period was examined by measuring total microsomal cytochromes P450 (P450), 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase P450 (P450c17) and aromatase P450 (P450arom) enzyme activities, and the redox partner proteins nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form (NADPH)-cytochrome P450 reductase (reductase) and cytochrome b(5) in testicular microsomes. Testes were collected from 1-24 d of age, and testicular development was suppressed by a GnRH antagonist in some animals from d 1-14. Both 17/20-lyase and aromatase activities increased from d 1-7 but not thereafter, and 17-20-lyase activity was always at least 200-fold higher than aromatase activity. Reductase decreased in wk 1, then increased to d 24. No changes were seen in cytochrome b(5) expression. GnRH antagonist treatment suppressed plasma LH, testosterone and testes growth to d 14. 17,20-Lyase and aromatase activities in testicular microsomes were reduced by 20% and 50%, respectively. Total microsomal P450 concentration was reduced by 50% on d 7, but there was no effect of treatment on reductase or cytochrome b(5) expression. These data support the hypothesis that the rise in neonatal testicular androgen secretion is more likely due to gonadotropin-stimulated gonadal growth, rather than specific P450c17 expression. Neither P450c17 nor P450arom can account for the decline in total microsomal P450. Reductase and cytochrome b(5) expression appears to be constitutive, but reductase levels saturate both P450c17 and P450arom.

The effect of acute stress and opioid antagonist on the activity of NADPH-P450 reductase in rat Leydig cells

Previous studies indicate that acute immobilization stress (IMO; 2 h) impaired testicular steroidogenesis primarily at the testicular level decreasing the activity of certain steroidogenic enzymes. In the present study unstressed rats as well as IMO rats (2 h) were treated by intratesticular injection of naltrexone methobromide (NMB; peripheral opioid receptor antagonist; 36 microg/testis) or vehicle at the beginning of and at 1 h of the IMO period. In IMO rats the activity of P450c17 was significantly reduced as well as the activity of NADPH-P450 reductase (which catalyzes the transfer of electrons from NADPH to cytochrome P450), while the activity of NADH-b5 reductase was not affected. Present data confirmed previous results that acute IMO reduced testicular P450c17 activity and implicate that decreased activity of NADPH-P450 reductase could be responsible for the inhibition of P450c17 under IMO conditions, while NADH-b5 reductase is probably not involved. NMB treatment antagonized the inhibitory effect of IMO on P450c17 and NADPH-P450 reductase activities. Such results put forward the implication that endogenous opioid peptides are involved in mediating the inhibitory effect of IMO on testicular steroidogenesis, and allow the speculation that NADPH-P450 reductase could be a possible site of such an inhibition.

Purification of cytochrome b5 from pig testis microsomes by isoelectric focusing in an immobiline pH gradient

Testicular cytochrome b5 was purified by a procedure including preparative isoelectrofocusing. The cytochrome b5 was determined to have an isoelectric point of 4.45 on analytical isoelectric focusing. The purified cytochrome b5 was found to be homogeneous and its molecular weight was estimated to be 16,000 on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The oxidized and reduced forms of the purified preparation exhibited absorption spectra of a typical cytochrome b5. A 69-fold purification was achieved with an overall yield of 6.2%. Following preparation of the microsomes, the purification is accomplished by a two-step procedure utilizing column chromatography and preparative isoelectric focusing.

Effects of acute and chronic immobilization stress on rat Leydig cell steroidogenesis

In rats, acute immobilization (IMO) stress (2 h) induced a fall in the serum androgen concentrations (T+DHT) without detectable changes in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) values. In vitro studies, using a suspension of Leydig cells from adult rat testis, demonstrated that acute stress inhibited conversion of progesterone (P) or 17hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) to T while conversion of androstendione (delta 4 A) was not affected. Acute IMO reduced activity of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) and decreased basal and hCG-stimulated progesterone and androgen production. Chronic IMO stress (2 h daily for 10 days) induced a decrease in serum androgen level with decline in serum LH values. In vitro, hCG-stimulated progesterone and androgen production by suspension of Leydig cells, as well as conversion of P and 17OHP to T were not significantly altered. Our data demonstrates that acute IMO stress impaired testicular steroidogenesis primarily at the testicular level (decreasing the activity of certain enzymes), while chronic IMO stress exerts the effect mainly on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis; reduced serum LH levels elicit a decrease in serum androgen levels.

Reasons for reduced activities of 17 alpha-hydroxylase and C17-C20 lyase in spite of increased contents of cytochrome P-450 in mature rat testis fetally irradiated with 60Co

Pregnant rats received whole body irradiation with 2.6 Gy gamma-ray from a 60Co source at Day 20 of gestation. When pups were 4 months old, activities of electron transport system and steroid monooxygenase in tests were assayed. The content of total cytochrome P-450 in the irradiated testes had increased to 170% of that in non-irradiated rats, but NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity had reduced to 36% of the control. Also, amounts of cytochrome b5 in testicular microsomal fraction were decreased markedly after irradiation, but no significant change of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase activity was observed in the treated pups. Because both 17 alpha-hydroxylase and C17-C20 lyase activities tended to be decreased by fetal irradiation, testosterone production from progesterone and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone was reduced to about 30% of the control. From these results, it has been suggested that the testicular cytochrome P-450 is radioresistant but steroid monooxygenase activities are reduced after the fetal irradiation. We propose that the discrepancy arises from the marked decrement of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity.

The function of NADH-semidehydroascorbate reductase and ascorbic acid in corticosteroid hydroxylation

We have demonstrated in rat adrenal (Natarajan, R.D. and Harding, B.W. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 3902-3905) that NADH-semidehydroascorbate reductase and ascorbate participate in an electron transport pathway (ETP) supplying reducing equivalents from NADH to cytochrome P-450scc. Here, we demonstrate that this ascorbate dependent ETP also supplies reducing equivalents to cytochrome P-450(11 beta/18) in both rat adrenal and bovine adrenal cortex. The activity is dependent upon addition of catalase or upon 'cold shock' treatment of isolated mitochondria. Comparison of the rates of 11 beta- and 18-hydroxylation supported by this ETP and by the classical pathway supported by various TCA cycle intermediates suggests that in vivo the ascorbate dependent pathway may be essential for maximal flow of reducing equivalents to the mitochondrial hydroxylases. Partial reconstitution of the ascorbate dependent 11 beta/18-hydroxylase activity was achieved with purified bovine outer mitochondrial and inner mitochondrial membranes fortified with supernatant from sonified mitochondria all preincubated with phosphatidyl choline. These preparations no longer require catalase or 'cold shock' treatment. Ascorbate and NADH-semidehydroascorbate reductase are unable to support 17 alpha- or 21-hydroxylase activity in isolated bovine adrenal cortical microsomes whether incubated with purified outer mitochondrial membranes or not.

Alterations of heme, cytochrome P-450, and steroid metabolism by mercury in rat adrenal

The treatment of male rats with Hg2+ resulted in significant alterations in heme and hemoprotein metabolism in the adrenal gland which, in turn, were reflected in abnormal steroidogenic activities and steroid output. Twenty-four hours after the administration of 30 mumol of HgCl2/kg (sc) the mitochondrial heme and cytochrome P-450 concentrations increased by approximately 50%. Also, Hg2+ treatment stimulated a porphyrinogenic response which included an 11-fold increase in the activity of delta-aminolevulinate synthetase. The increase in mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 content was reflected in elevated steroid 11 beta-hydroxylase and cholesterol side-chain cleavage activities. In contrast, Hg2+ treatment resulted in decreased concentrations of microsomal cytochrome P-450 (-75%) and heme (-45%). Similarly, the reduction in the microsomal cytochrome P-450 content was accompanied by reduced steroid 21 alpha-hydroxylase and benzo[alpha]pyrene hydroxylase activities. The mechanisms responsible for the loss of the microsomal cytochrome P-450 content appeared to involve a selective impairment of formation of the holocytochrome as well as an enhanced rate of heme degradation. This suggestion is made on the basis of findings that (a) the decrease in the microsomal cytochrome P-450 content was accompanied by a sevenfold increase in the activity of adrenal heme oxygenase, (b) no decrease in apocytochrome P-450 could be detected in sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis of the solubilized microsomal fractions stained for heme, and (c) the concentration of adrenal microsomal cytochrome b5 was significantly increased in the Hg2+-treated animals. It is suggested that Hg2+ directly caused a defect in adrenal steroid biosynthesis by inhibiting the activity of 21 alpha-hydroxylase. The apparent physiological consequences of this effect included lowered plasma levels of corticosterone and elevated concentrations of progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone. This abnormal plasma steroid profile is indicative of a 21 alpha-hydroxylase impairment.

Purification and characterization of rat adrenal 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase with steroid 5-ene-4-ene-isomerase

After solubilization of rat adrenal microsomes with sodium cholate, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase with steroid 5-ene-4-ene isomerase (abbreviated as steroid isomerase) activity was purified to a homogeneous state. The following characteristics of the enzyme were obtained: 3 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase together with steroid isomerase was detected as a single protein band in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, where its mol. wt was estimated as 46,500. Either NAD+ or NADH was required for demonstration of steroid isomerase activity. Treatment of the enzyme with 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine, an affinity labeling reagent for NAD+-dependent enzyme, diminished both the enzyme activities.

Studies of the human testis. XX--Effect of NADH on 17 alpha-hydroxypregnene C17-20 lyase activity

A study of the cofactor requirements of C17-20 lyase was carried out using human testis tissue obtained at the time of orchiectomy for treatment of prostatic carcinoma. Washed microsomal fractions were prepared from frozen human testes using a KCl containing buffer. The preparation revealed dose-dependent activity of C17-20 lyase in the presence of either NADPH or commercial or purified NADH. The Km of NADH for the enzyme was of the order of 10(-3) M and the Km of NADPH was determined as 1.6 X 10(-5) M. NADH also provided synergistic enhancement of NADPH-mediated lyase activity, and decreased the Km of NADPH for the lyase but did not change the Vmax of NADPH-mediated lyase activity. Carbon monoxide inhibited both NADH and NADPH-mediated lyase activities indicating that both activities are catalyzed by cytochrome P-450. Cations including Ca2+, Mg2+ and Mn2+ were found to inhibit the NADPH-mediated lyase activity but enhanced the lyase activity in the presence of NADH. The results indicate both the presence of NADH-mediated C17-20 lyase activity and the synergistic effect of NADH on NADPH-mediated lyase activity in the human testis.

Estimation of kinetic parameters of androgen-synthesizing enzyme activities in superfused Leydig cells from rat testes: difference between endogenous and exogenous substrates

Kinetic parameters of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase, steroid-17 alpha-monooxygenase, and steroid-17,20-lyase activities were estimated under steady-state conditions. Purified Leydig cells from rat testes were superfused with pregnenolone, progesterone, or 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone. The Km values for both the monooxygenase- and the lyase-catalyzed reactions were by factors of five to ten higher if analyzed with the exogenously added substrate (0.98 and 0.65 microM, respectively) than if calculated from endogenous substrate derived from a precursor (0.10 and 0.13 microM, respectively). This discrepancy may be explained by different substrate partition between the intra- and extracellular spaces and by different substrate concentration at the active site of the respective enzyme, depending on whether the actual substrate is of exogenous or endogenous source.

New developments in the regulation of heme metabolism and their implications

Various endogenous and exogenous chemicals, such as hormones, drugs, and carcinogens and other environmental pollutants are enzymatically converted to polar metabolites as a result of their oxidative metabolism by the mixed-function oxidase system. This enzyme complex constitutes the major detoxifying system of man and utilizes the hemoprotein--cytochrome P-450--as the terminal oxidase. Recent studies with trace metals have revealed the potent ability of these elements to alter the synthesis and to enhance the degradation of heme moiety of cytochrome P-450. An important consequence of these metal actions is to greatly impair the ability of cells to oxidatively metabolize chemicals because of the heme dependence of this metabolic process. In this report the effects of exposure to trace metals on drug oxidations is reviewed within the framework of metal alterations of heme metabolism, including both its synthesis and degradation, since these newly discovered properties of metals have made it possible to define a major dimension of metal toxicity in terms of a unified cellular mechanism of action.

Distribution of progesterone-binding cytochrome P450 and steroid-17 alpha-hydroxylase/C-17,20-lyase within different compartments of the rat testis

Progesterone-binding capacity of cytochrome P450 and rate of progesterone consumption by cytochrome P450-dependent hydroxylases are highest in the Leydig cell fraction but are also detectable in the non-Leydig cell fraction of interstitial cells as well as in seminiferous tubules from rat testis. The Leydig cell compartment, however, contributes only to a minor extent to the total progesterone binding and hydroxylation within the whole testis.