A Leydig cell tumour: a model for the study of lutropin action

Choosing The Right Animal Model for Renal Cancer Research

The increase in the life expectancy of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the last decade is due to changes that have occurred in the area of preclinical studies. Understanding cancer pathophysiology and the emergence of new therapeutic options, including immunotherapy, would not be possible without proper research. Before new approaches to disease treatment are developed and introduced into clinical practice they must be preceded by preclinical tests, in which animal studies play a significant role. This review describes the progress in animal model development in kidney cancer research starting from the oldest syngeneic or chemically-induced models, through genetically modified mice, finally to xenograft, especially patient-derived, avatar and humanized mouse models. As there are a number of subtypes of RCC, our aim is to help to choose the right animal model for a particular kidney cancer subtype. The data on genetic backgrounds, biochemical parameters, histology, different stages of carcinogenesis and metastasis in various animal models of RCC as well as their translational relevance are summarized. Moreover, we shed some light on imaging methods, which can help define tumor microstructure, assist in the analysis of its metabolic changes and track metastasis development.

The effect of meal size on postprandial carbohydrate metabolism in normal and tumor-bearing rats

Doubling the size of a meal causes less than a two-fold increase in the thermic effect of feeding. One possible reason for this is that larger meals may be associated with a change in the pathway of postprandial hepatic glycogen synthesis from the indirect pathway, involving gluconeogenesis, to the more energetically efficient direct pathway. We have therefore investigated the effect of meal size on the relative contributions of those two pathways both in normal rats and in tumor-bearing rats, which have previously been shown to utilize the indirect pathway to a greater extent. Rats bearing a transplantable Leydig cell tumor and freely fed controls were fasted overnight and given a test meal amounting to 12 or 24 kJ of their normal diet. They were then injected with 3H2O and 14C-glycerol and killed one hour later. The total amount of 3H incorporated into liver glycogen was not affected by meal size, although it was greater in tumor-bearing rats than controls. Analysis of the 3H labelling at different positions in the glycogen glucose residues showed that the proportion of glycogen synthesized via pyruvate, which tended to be greater in tumor-bearing rats, was significantly reduced by increasing the size of the meal. Glycogen synthesis from glycerol was not affected by either meal size or tumor growth. Increasing the size of the meal increased the rate of fatty acid synthesis in both the liver and the epididymal fat pad, but not the tumor. Thus increasing the size of the meal appeared to increase the proportion of glycogen synthesized by the direct pathway from glucose in both tumor-bearing and control animals.

Effect of acute acipimox administration on the rates of lipid and glycogen synthesis in cachectic tumor-bearing rats

Increased energy expenditure in cancer cachexia may be associated with increased postprandial glycogen synthesis via an indirect pathway involving gluconeogenesis. The possible beneficial effect of acipimox, a nicotinic acid analogue that suppresses lipolysis and may also inhibit gluconeogenesis, were therefore examined. Rats bearing a transplantable Leydig cell tumor and freely fed controls were fasted overnight, then given a test meal with or without 10 mg of acipimox. The meal included 200 mg of [1-13C]glucose, and the rats were injected simultaneously with 7 mCi of 3H2O and 1 microCi of [14C]glycerol. The rats were killed one hour later. The rate of incorporation of 3H2O into hepatic glycogen was increased in the tumor-bearing rats and suppressed by acipimox. Positional analysis of the tritium incorporated into glycogen indicated that a greater proportion of the glycogen was synthesized via pyruvate in the tumor-bearing rats. Acipimox tended to reduce this proportion, although the effect was not statistically significant. Neither tumor growth nor acipimox significantly affected the proportion of 13C incorporated into different positions in the glycogen glucose. Glycogen synthesis from glycerol tended to decrease when lipolysis was suppressed by acipimox, although the statistical significance of this effect was marginal. Fatty acid synthesis in liver and adipose tissue was reduced in tumor-bearing rats, but acipimox had no effect. It is concluded that acipimox does suppress gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis in the postprandial state, but it does not normalize all the metabolic abnormalities observed in cancer cachexia.

Alterations in postprandial glycogen and lipid synthesis in cachectic tumor-bearing rats

Alterations in the postprandial metabolism of glucose were investigated in groups of tumor-bearing rats and freely fed controls and in groups of normal rats whose food intake had been restricted to match that of the tumor-bearing rats. A standard mixed meal was administered by gavage, and the rate of incorporation of 3H from 3H2O into hepatic glycogen and into saponifiable lipids in the liver and adipose tissue was measured at intervals up to three hours after the meal. In tumor-bearing rats, the rate of glycogen synthesis rose by more than twice as much as normal after the meal, while the normal rise in rates of fatty acid synthesis was suppressed. In contrast, in the rats whose food intake had been restricted, the postprandial rise in hepatic glycogenesis was suppressed and the rates of postprandial lipogenesis in liver and adipose tissue were increased. Thus the changes that were observed in the tumor-bearing animals did not represent a normal response to reduced food intake. Increased postprandial glycogenesis in tumor-bearing rats is likely to be associated with increased gluconeogenesis, thereby increasing energy expenditure. The prolonged high rate of hepatic glycogen synthesis may also delay the initiation of the next meal and thus contribute to the decrease in food intake in cancer cachexia.

Lipid metabolism in cachectic tumor-bearing rats at different stages of tumor growth

Rates of lipogenesis and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity were measured in liver, adipose tissue, heart, and tumor at several stages during 10 days of palpable growth of a transplantable Leydig cell tumor in rats. This model showed the same characteristics as human cancer cachexia, including anorexia, weight loss, and muscle wasting. Comparison with pair-fed controls showed that the rate of loss of body fat was greater than could be explained by anorexia alone. The rate of lipogenesis tended to decrease during the later stages of tumor growth, particularly in the liver, where there was a statistically significant reduction on Days 5 and 10. This may be largely attributable to decreased availability of substrates caused by decreasing food intake and increasing glucose uptake by the tumor. There was a significant decrease in plasma glucose concentration by Day 10. In contrast, LPL activity in adipose tissue was depressed from the earliest stage of tumor growth, and this is likely to be a major cause of lipid depletion in cancer. There was no difference in adipose tissue LPL activity between the fed and postabsorptive states in the tumor-bearing rats, indicating that the normal response to nutrient intake was impaired. Thus, treatment of cancer cachexia should concentrate on normalizing the metabolic response to nutrient ingestion.

Regulation of expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is mediated by cAMP in rat Leydig cells and H540 rat Leydig tumor cells

Leydig cells isolated from testes of adult rats have a relatively high level of expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ(5→4)isomerase (3βHSD) in primary culture. Agents which increase the intracellular levels of cAMP such as forskolin, dibutyryl cAMP, and LH can positively regulate the expression of 3βHSD in Leydig cells in vitro. The effects of these agents are manifest at several levels and include increases in (1) 3βHSD activity, (2) the cellular levels of immunoreactive 3βHSD, (3) the rate of synthesis of 3βHSD, and (4) the cellular levels of 3βHSD mRNA which can be readily translated into 3βHSD in vitro. Two rat Leydig tumor cell lines which are steroidogenically active, H540 and R2C cells, also have a relatively high level of expression of 3βHSD. Forskolin can positively regulate the expression of 3βHSD in H540 Leydig tumor cells in which steroidogenesis is responsive to increases in intracellular cAMP, but it has no effect on 3βHSD in R2C Leydig tumor cells in which steroidogenesis is unresponsive to increases in intracellular cAMP. These results clearly support the hypothesis that cAMP mediates transcriptional regulation of 3βHSD in Leydig cells. The implication of these in vitro studies is that, in vivo, LH is required to maintain optimal levels of expression of the gene encoding testicular 3βHSD.

Sterol carrier protein 2 (non-specific lipid transfer protein) is localized in membranous fractions of Leydig cells and Sertoli cells but not in germ cells

The cellular and subcellular distribution of sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP2; nsL-TP) was reinvestigated in rat testicular cells by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry, using the affinity purified antibody against rat liver SCP2. Western blot analysis revealed high levels of the protein in the somatic cells of the testis, e.g., Leydig and Sertoli cells whereas it could not be detected in germ cells. This cellular localization of SCP2 was confirmed by Northern blotting. Immunocytochemical techniques revealed that in Leydig cells, immunoreactive proteins were concentrated in peroxisomes. Although SCP2 was also detected in Sertoli cells, a specific subcellular localization could not be shown. SCP2 was absent from germ cells. Analysis of subcellular fractions of Leydig cells showed that SCP2 is membrane bound without detectable amounts in the cytosolic fraction. These results are at variance with data published previously which suggested that in Leydig cells a substantial amount of SCP2 was present in the cytosol and that the distribution between membranes and cytosol was regulated by luteinizing hormone. The present data raise the question in what way SCP2 is involved in cholesterol transport between membranes in steroidogenic cells but also in non-steroidogenic cells.

3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5----4-isomerase expression in rat and characterization of the testis isoform

The isolation, cloning and expression of a DNA insert complementary to mRNA encoding rat testis 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5----4-isomerase (3 beta-HSD) is reported. The insert contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 373 amino acids, which exhibits 73% and 78% identity to the cDNA encoding the human placental form at the amino acid and nucleotide levels respectively. Northern blot analysis of total RNA of rat tissues using as probe a specific radiolabeled cDNA insert encoding rat testis 3 beta-HSD demonstrated high levels of 1.6 kb mRNA species in ovary, adrenal and Leydig tumor, with lower but detectable message in testis and adult male liver, while the probe also hybridized to a 2.1 kb mRNA species in liver. The cDNA was inserted into a modified pCMV vector and expressed in COS-1 monkey kidney tumor cells. The expressed protein was similar in size to 3 beta-HSD present in H540 Leydig tumor cell homogenate and human placental microsomal 3 beta-HSD, as detected by immunoblot analysis, and catalyzed the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone to 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone to androstenedione. Transfected COS cell homogenates, supplemented with NAD+, but not NADP+, converted pregnenolone to progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone to androstenedione with apparent Km values of 0.13 and 0.09 microM, respectively. Immunoblot analysis of various rat tissues using a polyclonal antibody directed against human placental 3 beta-HSD, in addition to immunoreactivity in the adrenal and testis, demonstrated immunoreactive 3 beta-HSD protein in adult male liver, but not in adult female or fetal liver. We conclude that while one gene product is highly expressed in testicular Leydig cells, and probably adrenal and ovary, accounting for their 3 beta-HSD content, a 3 beta-HSD is also expressed in liver in a sex-specific manner.

Expression of cytochrome P-450(17) alpha, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5----4-isomerase, and steroid 5 alpha-reductase in rat H540 Leydig tumor cells

The rat H540 Leydig tumor cell is established as a model for acute lutropin action on the initial step of steroidogenesis, namely the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone. Herein, we demonstrate that H540 cells express high levels of three steroid-metabolizing enzymes which are involved in the further processing of pregnenolone in the endoplasmic reticulum of the steroidogenic cell. In particular, in addition to expressing 17 alpha-hydroxylase cytochrome P-450 (P-450(17) alpha) and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5----4-isomerase (3 beta-HSD), H540 cells also showed high levels of steroid 5 alpha-reductase mRNA and activity. The H540 cells therefore exhibit similarity to Leydig cells from sexually immature animals which also demonstrate high 5 alpha-reductase activity. Thus, after 3 beta-HSD-catalyzed formation from pregnenolone, progesterone was efficiently converted to 5 alpha-pregnan-3,20-dione (5 alpha-dihydroprogesterone) and subsequent metabolism to the corresponding 17 alpha-hydroxylated derivative and 5 alpha-androstan-3,17-dione in a reaction catalyzed by P-450(17) alpha. H540 cells have apparently very low 17-ketosteroid reductase activity and, therefore, a principal end-product of the steroidogenic pathway in these cells was 5 alpha-androstan-3,17-dione. H540 cells maintained in primary culture under serum-free conditions accumulated demonstrable levels of mRNA species for P-540 17 alpha (1.7 kb), 3 beta-HSD (1.6 kb) and 5 alpha-reductase (2.7 kb). This finding suggests that the H540 tumor cell model will not only be of utility in the study of acute lutropin action but also in the elucidation of mechanisms involved in the regulation of expression of various families of microsomal steroid-metabolizing enzymes.

Identification of transcripts encoding a parathyroid hormone-like peptide in messenger RNAs from a variety of human and animal tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy

The syndrome of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) appears to be mediated in many instances by a parathyroid hormone-like peptide, which has recently been purified, sequenced, and cloned. Using a probe representing the coding region of the human PTH-like peptide, we examined by Northern analysis poly (A)+ RNA from a variety of human and animal tumors associated with HHM. Hybridizing transcripts were identified in mRNA from each of 12 human and each of four animal HHM-associated tumors, with a complex hybridization pattern observed in the human mRNAs and a relatively simple pattern observed in the animal mRNAs. Poly (A)+ RNA prepared from tumors of similar histological types unassociated with HHM failed to hybridize with the probe. Messenger RNA-dependent biological activity from the animal tumors was entirely eliminated in a hybridization-arrest experiment using a complementary oligonucleotide spanning the region of homology between human PTH and the PTH-like peptide. These findings indicate that the PTH-like peptide is associated with the syndrome of HHM in a wide spectrum of tumor types from a variety of mammalian species and that the PTH-like sequence in the proximal amino terminus of the peptide is highly conserved.

The significance of learned food aversions in the aetiology of anorexia associated with cancer

The results of 24 h food preference tests have suggested that learned food aversions may be involved in the development of anorexia in tumour bearing rats and in patients with cancer. We have performed similar tests over longer periods, up to 10 days, in male rats implanted with Leydig cell tumours, using semisynthetic diets containing differing proportions of fat, protein and carbohydrate. Tumour growth caused anorexia (16-30% decrease in food intake) and cachexia (78% decrease in body fat and 18% decrease in body protein, but 16% increase in body water). Both tumour bearing and control rats preferred a high carbohydrate diet to a high fat diet regardless of their previous diet: tumour bearing rats showed no evidence of a learned food aversion in these experiments. Tumour bearing rats did show an initial preference for a novel high protein diet when this was offered as an alternative to the normal protein diet they had previously been consuming, but this apparent learned food aversion disappeared on the second day of the test and was in fact reversed on all the subsequent days of the test. However, tumour bearing rats did show a sustained preference for a novel low protein diet when this was offered as an alternative to the normal protein diet they had previously been consuming. These results suggest that anorexia in the tumour bearing rats was not caused by a learned food aversion. However the results do indicate that the tumour bearing rats may have developed a specific aversion to protein in the diet. Leydig cell tumours are known to secrete large amounts of oestradiol. However injections of oestradiol in normal male rats caused an increase in body fat content and had no effect on the rats' preference for dietary protein. Clearly hypersecretion of oestradiol was not responsible for the loss of body fat, the fluid retention and the aversion to dietary protein which characterised the tumour bearing rats. The mechanisms by which tumour growth causes anorexia and cachexia in these rats remains obscure.

Similarities and differences in phorbol ester- and luteinizing-hormone-induced desensitization of rat tumour Leydig-cell adenylate cyclase

The phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) was shown to mimic luteinizing hormone (LH; lutropin) in causing desensitization of LH-mediated cyclic AMP production in tumour Leydig cells. However, there were differences between LH- and TPA-induced desensitization: (1) TPA induced a more rapid effect than LH; (2) adenosine did not inhibit TPA-induced desensitization, whereas it completely inhibited the LH-induced desensitization; (3) adenylate cyclase activity in plasma membranes from TPA-desensitized cells was not decreased, whereas similar preparations from LH-desensitized cells lost their response to LH and to LH plus guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate; TPA-, but not LH-, treated cells had a decreased capacity to respond to cholera toxin and forskolin. These results indicate that LH and phorbol esters induce desensitization of adenylate cyclase in rat tumour Leydig cells by different mechanisms.

Steroidogenesis-activator polypeptide isolated from a rat Leydig cell tumor

A cycloheximide-sensitive protein responsive to adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate has been postulated to participate in the regulation of cholesterol side-chain cleavage activity in steroidogenic tissues. Such a steroidogenesis activator polypeptide (SAP) had been isolated from rat adrenocortical tissue and partially characterized. Now a polypeptide with comparable chromatographic behavior and biological activity has been purified from the rat H-540 Leydig cell tumor in quantities sufficient for amino acid sequencing. The activator contains 30 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 3215. The synthetic construct based on this sequence is virtually equipotent with native H-540 tumor SAP in an adrenal mitochondrial cholesterol side-chain cleavage assay. Hormonal regulation of the intracellular concentration of this activator may control the rate of cholesterol metabolism in steroidogenic organs.

Adenosine potentiates lutropin-stimulated cyclic AMP production and inhibits lutropin-induced desensitization of adenylate cyclase in rat Leydig tumour cells

The action of adenosine on lutropin (LH)-stimulated cyclic AMP production and LH-induced desensitization of adenylate cyclase in rat Leydig tumour cells was investigated. Adenosine and N6-(phenylisopropyl)adenosine caused a dose-dependent potentiation of LH-stimulated cyclic AMP production at concentrations (0.01-10 microM) which alone did not produce an increase in cyclic AMP production. However, 2-deoxyadenosine had no effect either alone or in combination with LH on cyclic AMP production. The potentiation produced by adenosine was unaffected by concentrations of the specific nucleoside-transport inhibitor dipyridamole, which inhibited [3H]adenosine uptake by up to 90%. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine, but not RO-10-1724, inhibited the adenosine-induced potentiation. In the presence of adenosine, the kinetics of LH-stimulated cyclic AMP production were linear with time up to 2h, compared with those with LH alone, which showed a characteristic decrease in rate of cyclic AMP production after the first 15-20 min. Consistent with the altered kinetics, adenosine also inhibited the LH-induced desensitization of adenylate cyclase. These results suggest that adenosine has effects on rat tumour Leydig cells through receptors on the external surface of the plasma membrane. This receptor has characteristics similar to those of the R-type receptors, which have been shown either to stimulate or to inhibit adenylate cyclase. However, the effects of adenosine in the present studies does not involve a direct inhibition or activation of adenylate cyclase, but may involve an as yet undefined receptor-mediated modulation of adenylate cyclase.

Interactions of cadmium with interstitial tissue of the rat testes. Uptake of cadmium by isolated interstitial cells

Previous studies have shown that the administration of cadmium causes extensive necrosis of the testes and, eventually, a high incidence of interstitial cell tumors. However, the interactions of cadmium with interstitial cells of the testes have not been well defined. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the uptake of cadmium into this potential target cell of cadmium carcinogenesis. Interstitial cells were prepared by collagenase dispersion of decapsulated Wistar rat testes and separated from seminiferous tubules by unit gravity sedimentation. Such preparations showed a high exclusion rate of trypan blue. The interstitial cell preparations were incubated at 33 degrees with various concentrations of cadmium (1.0 to 100 microM) for periods ranging from 0.5 to 60 min. At the end of the incubation, cellular cadmium was separated from cadmium in the media by centrifugation through an oil layer. Initial experiments showed three distinct phases of cadmium influx into interstitial cells, a primary rapid velocity phase (V0; 0 to 1.5 min), a second intermediate velocity phase (V1; 3 to 12 min), and a third low velocity phase (V2; 15 to 60 min). V2 appeared to have both influx and efflux components, as efflux experiments indicated an approximate 20% loss of cadmium from 15 to 60 min. The initial phase was found to be nonsaturable and was not decreased by inclusion of potassium cyanide (1.0 mM), N-ethylmaleimide (1.0 mM), or zinc (100 microM) in the incubation mixture. However, V1 was found to be saturable between 50 and 100 microM cadmium and was substantially decreased by the inclusion of potassium cyanide, N-ethylmaleimide or zinc during incubation. These data suggest that cadmium is taken up into interstitial cells by a transport system that may normally function in zinc uptake and may possibly constitute carrier mediated or active transport.

Are polyphosphorylated phospholipids involved in the hormonal control of cholesterol side-chain cleavage activity in tumour Leydig cells?

The possible role of LH or dcAMP induced changes in polyphosphorylated phospholipid metabolism in the regulation of cholesterol side-chain cleavage activity has been studied in tumour Leydig cells. Mitochondria isolated from LH-stimulated Leydig cells were 400% more active in pregnenolone production than mitochondria from control cells. Steroid production in isolated mitochondria from control cells could be stimulated only 25% by cytosol fractions from stimulated cells and 100 microM phosphatidyl inositol-4'-phosphate (PtdIns4P). Other polyphosphorylated phospholipids were either inactive or showed aspecific effects. During a preincubation period tumour cells were labelled with [32P]phosphate and steady-state labelling was obtained for the pholyphosphorylated phospholipids after 40-60 min. [32P]Phosphate incorporation in Ptd Ins4P, phosphatidyl inositol (PtdIns), phosphatidyl choline (PtChl), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PtdEtn) and cardiolipin (CL) was not affected by treatment of the Leydig cells with LH which stimulated (6-fold), or with cycloheximide which suppressed (4-fold) steroid production. A 25% increase of phosphate incorporation by LH was observed only in phosphatidyl inositol-4',5'-biphosphate (PtdIns4,5P2). 32P Incorporation in PtdIns4,5P2, PtdIns,PtdEtn and CL was stimulated by quinacrine 50 microM. Under these conditions the LH-stimulated pregnenolone production but not the 25-hydroxycholesterol dependent pregnenolone production, was completely inhibited. The results obtained with isolated mitochondria and intact cells indicate that increased levels of polyphosphorylated phospholipids are not consistently correlated with increased mitochondrial pregnenolone production. This argues against an important role of polyphosphorylated phospholipids in the hormonal regulation of cholesterol side-chain cleavage activity in tumour Leydig cells.

A transplantable rat Leydig cell tumor—2. Adenylyl cyclase activation by prostaglandin E1, isoproterenol and glucagon

The responsiveness of the membrane bound adenylyl cyclase (AC) system to various hormones and hormone analogues in a transplantable rat Leydig cell tumor (H-540) has been investigated and compared with that of interstitial tissue from normal adult rats. The results can be summarized as follows: The AC of the Leydig cell tumors was stimulated by isoproterenol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, glucagon, PGE1, PGF2 alpha and LH/hCG. The AC of the Leydig cell tumors exhibited a much greater response to PGE1 than the AC in normal interstitial tissue (5-fold and 2-fold stimulation, respectively). The AC of the Leydig cell tumours also revealed a somewhat higher response to isoproterenol than the AC of interstitial tissue (2.5-fold and 2-fold, respectively). Adenylyl cyclase in both tissues were equally stimulated by glucagon (2-fold). The LH response in the Leydig cell tumors was only half of that found in normal Leydig cells. This study indicates, that in spite of the fact that tumor Leydig cells respond to LH and produce testosterone, the response pattern of the AC is different from that of normal Leydig cells.

A transplantable rat Leydig cell tumor--1. LH and prolactin receptors and effects of the endocrine status of the host animal

We have examined the binding capacity and properties (affinity, specificity) of LH and prolactin (Prl) receptors in a transplantable rat Leydig cell tumor (H-540) grown in intact, castrated and hypophysectomized rats. LH receptors in adult rat testis and Prl receptors in the rat ventral prostate were examined simultaneously for comparison. The results can be summarized as follows: The qualitative properties (affinity, specificity) of LH and Prl receptors in tumor Leydig cells appear to be identical to those of corresponding receptors in non-tumor tissues. The levels of LH receptors in tumor Leydig cells are only some 1% of that present in normal Leydig cells from adult rats. Tumor Leydig cells grown in hypophysectomized rats had even lower levels of LH receptors; ca. 1/3 of that found in tumors from intact rats. The levels of Prl receptors in the tumor Leydig cells are almost as high as in normal Leydig cells from adult rats. In tumors grown in hypophysectomized rats, the levels of Prl receptors were much lower (ca. 20%) than in tumors from intact or castrated rats. There were great variations in the number of LH and Prl receptors in individual tumors, and there was a positive correlation (r = 0.88; P less than 0.01) between LH and Prl receptors in individual tumors. No differentiation toward a "LH receptor tumor" or "Prl receptor tumor" was observed. Thus, receptors for LH and Prl in tumor cells are qualitatively normal, but the number is greatly (LH) or moderately (Prl) reduced. These receptors in the tumor Leydig cells are stimulated by pituitary hormones.

Characterization of the homologous and heterologous desensitization of rat Leydig-tumour-cell adenylate cyclase

The homologous and heterologous desensitization of rat Leydig-tumour-cell adenylate cyclase induced by lutropin (LH) was characterized with the aid of forskolin and cholera toxin. Forskolin stimulated cyclic AMP production in a dose-dependent manner, with linear kinetics up to 2h. Forskolin also potentiated the action of LH on cyclic AMP production, but was only additive with cholera toxin. Preincubation of rat Leydig tumour cells with LH (1.0 micrograms/ml) for 1 h produced a desensitization of the subsequent LH (1.0 micrograms/ml)-stimulated cyclic AMP production, whereas the responses to cholera toxin (5.0 micrograms/ml), forskolin (100 microM), LH plus forskolin or cholera toxin plus forskolin were unaltered. In contrast, preincubation with LH for 20h produced a desensitization to all the stimuli tested. When rat Leydig tumour cells were preincubated for 1h with forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP, the only subsequent response that was significantly altered was that to LH plus forskolin after preincubation with forskolin. However, preincubation for 20h with forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP induced a desensitization to all stimuli subsequently tested. LH produced a rapid (0-1h) homologous desensitization, which was followed by a slower (2-8h)-onset heterologous desensitization. Forskolin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP were only able to induce heterologous desensitization. The rate of desensitization induced by either forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP was similar to the rate of heterologous desensitization induced by LH. These results demonstrate that in purified rat Leydig tumour cells LH produces an initial homologous desensitization of adenylate cyclase that involves a cyclic AMP-independent lesion at or proximal to the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein). This is followed by heterologous desensitization, which can also be induced by forskolin or dibutyryl cyclic AMP, thus indicating that LH-induced heterologous desensitization of rat Leydig-tumour-cell adenylate cyclase involves a cyclic AMP-dependent lesion that is after the G-protein.

Inhibition of steroid production in Leydig cells by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and related compounds: evidence for the involvement of lipoxygenase products in steroidogenesis

The effect of inhibitors of the cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism on steroidogenesis in rat testis Leydig cells and rat tumour Leydig cells has been investigated. In the presence of nordihydroguaiaretic acid [NDGA; 4,4'-(2,3- dimethylbutan -1,4- diyl )bis[1,2- benzendiol ]], 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), BW 755C [3-amino-1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-pyrazoline hydrochloride] and benoxaprofen [ Opren ; 2-(2-p-chlorophenyl- benzoxazol -5-yl)propionic acid)] (which inhibit lipoxygenase activity), but not indomethacin and aspirin (which inhibit cyclo-oxygenase activity), a dose-related inhibition of lutropin (LH)-stimulated testosterone and pregnenolone production was obtained (ID50 values of 2.5, 30, 25 and 30 microM for NDGA, ETYA, BW 755C and benoxaprofen were obtained, respectively). BW 755C and benoxaprofen had no significant effect on LH-stimulated cyclic AMP production except at the highest concentrations examined (330 and 380 microM, respectively), whereas NDGA and ETYA inhibited LH-stimulated cyclic AMP production in a dose-dependent manner (ID50 7.0 and 22 microM respectively). However, NDGA and ETYA also caused a dose-dependent inhibition of dibutyryl cyclic AMP-stimulated testosterone and pregnenolone production. The metabolism of exogenous ( 22R )-hydroxycholesterol or pregnenolone to testosterone by Leydig cells was not inhibited by either NDGA, ETYA or indomethacin. At low concentrations of NDGA and ETYA a significant increase in the conversion of both pregnenolone and ( 22R )-hydroxycholesterol to testosterone was obtained. Studies in which the metabolism of [14C]arachidonic acid by purified rat tumour Leydig cells was investigated indicate that products are formed by tumour Leydig cells that have similar mobilities in a thin layer chromatography system to 5-L-hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid, 12-L-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid and leukotriene B4. The formation of these products was inhibited to varying degrees by NDGA, BW 755C and benoxaprofen but not by aspirin and indomethacin. These studies demonstrate for the first time that inhibition of lipoxygenase activity but not cyclo-oxygenase activity causes an inhibition of LH- and dibutyryl cyclic AMP-stimulated steroid production and suggest a stimulatory role for products of the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism in steroidogenesis. The site of this stimulation is apparently distal to the production of cyclic AMP and before the side chain cleavage of cholesterol.

LH-dependent steroid production and protein phosphorylation in culture of rat tumour Leydig cells

The possible cause of the decreased responsiveness of cultured Leydig cells to stimulation with LH was investigated with rat tumour Leydig cells cultured at 32 degrees C for 2 days. Pregnenolone production and phosphorylation of proteins were studied in combination with the activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Pregnenolone production in cultured tumour Leydig cells decreased from 45 +/- 16 on day 0 to 14 +/- 7 on day 2 (ng/60 min/mg protein) under basal conditions and from 226 +/- 108 on day 0 to 30 +/- 24 on day 2 (ng/60 min/ng protein) under LH-stimulated conditions (means +/- SD, n = 4). This decrease may be accounted for by decreased capacity of cholesterol side-chain cleavage which decreased (in the presence of 25-hydroxycholesterol) from 1.68 +/- 0.26 on day 0 to 0.74 +/- 0.48 on day 2 (microgram/60 min/mg protein; mean +/- SD, n = 4) and decreased activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (as apparent from a direct assay of protein kinase activity and the extent of phosphorylation of LH-dependent phosphoproteins).

Isolation and characterization of plasma membranes containing LH sensitive adenylate cyclase from a Leydig cell tumour

An LH sensitive adenylate cyclase from a tumour Leydig cell has been investigated. The plasma membranes, prepared by a 2 phase (dextran-polyethylene glycol) centrifugation method were found to have the following properties: In the presence of LH plus p(NH)ppG (guanosine 5'-beta, gamma-imido triphosphate) or fluoride ions, maximum adenylate cyclase activity was obtained in the plasma membranes with 4 to 6 mM Mg2+ plus 0.33 to 2 mM ATP. LH alone stimulated adenylate cyclase activity 2-fold when compared with basal activity and the time course of cyclic AMP production was linear up to 45 min. With GTP (10(-5)M) and GTP plus LH, adenylate cyclase activity was increased 3 and 6-fold, respectively, for up to 20 min and thereafter declined. In contrast p(NH)ppG (10(-5)M) and p(NH)ppG plus LH increased adenylate cyclase activity 7 and 14-fold which was maintained for at least 45 min. Fluoride ions increased the enzyme activity linearly over 45 min approx 18-fold. When GTP or p(NH)ppG were added alone there was a lag time of activation of approximately 10 min which was abolished by the addition of LH. GTP but not p(NH)ppG at concentrations greater than 10(-4) inhibited basal and LH stimulated adenylate cyclase when compared with 10(-5)M GTP. The tumour Leydig cell adenylate cyclase is thus essentially similar to other hormone sensitive somatic cells. The present study makes it feasible to prepare plasma membranes by a simple method from large quantities of pure Leydig cells.

Establishment of gonadotropin-responsive murine leydig tumor cell line

Several clonal Leydig tumor cell lines have been established by adapting the transplantable Leydig tumor, M548OP, to culture. One of these cell line, MLTC-1, has been characterized with regard to the gonadotropin-responsive adenylate cyclase system. The binding of 125I-labeled human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was blocked by excess unlabeled hCG and lutropin (LH) but not by follitropin, thyrotropin, or insulin, indicating the presence of specific receptors for hCG and LH. Based on the specific binding of hCG to isolated MLTC-1 membranes, the calculated dissociation constant was 1.0 +/- 0.2 X 10(-10) M. The receptors appeared identical to those from normal murine Leydig cells when analyzed by SDS PAGE and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The molecular weight and sedimentation coefficient were 95,000 daltons and 8.5 S, respectively. MLTC-1 cells responded to hCG by accumulating cyclic AMP and producing progesterone. Cyclic AMP accumulation was time- and dose-dependent with a maximal accumulation occurring at approximately 0.2 nM hCG. At saturating levels of hCG, cAMP levels reached a maximum by 30 min and then declined very slowly. Adenylate cyclase activity in membranes prepared from MLTC-1 cells was stimulated by hCG, LH, NaF, cholera toxin, and guanyl-5'-ylimidodiphosphate, Additionally, choleragen was found to ADP-ribosylate a membrane protein of 54,000 daltons. This protein resembles the proposed guanine nucleotide regulatory component in both size and choleragen-dependent reactivity. These data suggest that MLTC-1 cells possess a gonadotropin-responsive adenylate cyclase system consisting of a specific hormone receptor, a regulatory component, and a catalytic subunit.

Lutropin increases phosphorylation of a 33 000-dalton ribosomal protein in rat tumour Leydig cells

Addition of lutropin (luteinizing hormone, 'LH') and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine to tumour Leydig cells stimulated phosphorylation of five proteins, of 17 000, 22 000, 24 000, 33 000 and 57 000 Da. Phosphorylation of these proteins coincided with increased pregnenolone production. Phosphorylation of a 33 000-Da protein was lutropin-dependent in Leydig cells isolated from a Leydig-cell tumour, from immature testes or from mature testes. In tumour Leydig cells this protein was present in the small ribosomal subunit. Incubation of tumour Leydig cells with either cycloheximide or puromycin inhibited both basal and lutropin-dependent pregnenolone production, by approx. 90% and 98% respectively. In contrast, basal pregnenolone production in Leydig cells from immature and mature testes was insensitive to cycloheximide or puromycin. Cycloheximide or puromycin increased phosphorylation of the 33 000-Da phosphoprotein by approx. 130% and 80% respectively (effect of lutropin/3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine on phosphorylation: 100%). The molecular mass, the subcellular localization and the sensitivity to phosphorylation in the presence of inhibitors of protein synthesis indicate that the 33 000-Da protein could be similar to ribosomal protein S6.

Stimulation and inhibition by LHRH analogues of cultured rat Leydig cell function and lack of effect on mouse Leydig cells

The effect of 2 luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues(10-8-10-6 M) on the functional activity (testosterone and cyclic AMP production and [125I]hCG binding) of purified mouse Leydig cells in culture was examined. The analogues were found to have no significant effect on the cells over a period of 3 days. No specific binding of a labelled analogue to impure or pure mouse Leydig cells could be detected. In contrast high levels of specific binding to impure rat interstitial cells occurred. Centrifugation of the rat interstitial cells on 0-90% Percoll gradients showed that the LHRH analogue bound specifically to the active lutropin-responsive Leydig cells. The purified rat Leydig cells were cultured in the presence of LHRH analogue (ICI 118630) (10-7 M) and after an initial lag period (2h) a marked stimulation of testosterone production occurred over a 32-h period (up to 400 ng/10(6) cells). The response to LH alone increased with time in culture up to 10 h, and the LHRH analogue enhanced this LH-stimulated testosterone production. When the cells were cultured for longer time periods (24 h) the LHRH analogue was found to inhibit LH-stimulated testosterone production at all concentrations of LH used (p less than 0.01). The LHRH analogue had no consistent effect on LH-stimulated cyclic AMP production, although when added alone, cyclic AMP production was increased. These results show that LHRH analogues do not bind to or have any detectable effect on mouse Leydig cells in vitro. However, LHRH analogue does bind specifically to purified rat Leydig cells. After a short lag period the analogue stimulates testosterone production which turns to inhibition after 20 h in culture.

The deleterious effect of mechanical dissociation of rat testes on the functional activity and purification of Leydig cells using Percoll gradients

The effect of mechanically dispersing rat testes prior to collagenase treatment on the activity of the subsequently isolated Leydig cells has been investigated. The latter were obtained by centrifugation of the testes cells on Percoll density gradients. It was found that the lutropin-stimulated testosterone and cyclic AMP production were 5 and 3 times higher, respectively, in the purified Leydig cells when the mechanical dispersion was omitted, whereas the specific binding of human choriogonadotrophin was unchanged. It is concluded that mechanical treatment of rat testes, unlike mouse testes, decrease the activity of the Leydig cells.

Desensitization of tumour Leydig cells by lutropin: evidence for uncoupling of the lutropin receptor from the guanine nucleotide-binding protein

Purified rat Leydig tumour cells were pretreated with lutropin and the effect on the subsequent response to lutropin was determined. Maximal cyclic AMP production was achieved with the same concentration of lutropin in control and lutropin-pretreated cells; however, the maximum stimulated level in pretreated cells was only 30% of controls. The sensitivity to lutropin was decreased in lutropin-pretreated cells [ED(50) (dose that produces a response that is 50% of the maximum response) 60+/-5.7ng/ml and 8+/-1.8ng/ml (mean+/-s.d., n=3) for controls], as was the rate of maximal cyclic AMP production (0.58, compared with 1.89pmol/10(6) cells per min for controls). However, cholera-toxin-stimulated cyclic AMP production was not decreased by lutropin pretreatment, and a potentiation was seen at all time points studied (up to 6h). Pre-incubation with lutropin caused a decrease in specific (125)I-labelled human choriogonadotropin binding; however, this decrease was abolished if the cells were washed under acidic conditions (pH3.0 for 2min at 4 degrees C), indicating that occupation but not loss of the lutropin receptors had taken place. The effect of pretreating the cells with lutropin on adenylate cyclase activity in purified plasma membranes was also investigated. In plasma membranes from control cells both guanosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate [p(NH)ppG] plus lutropin and NaF plus lutropin caused a 50-60-fold linear increase in cyclic AMP production over 40min compared with 15-fold with p(NH)ppG and 6-fold with lutropin alone. In plasma membranes isolated from lutropin-treated cells the NaF-plus-lutropin- and the p(NH)ppG-stimulated cyclic AMP production rates were unchanged but no effect of lutropin could be demonstrated with or without added p(NH)ppG. In contrast the plasma membranes from dibutyryl cyclic AMP-treated cells had similar cyclic AMP production rates to control cells with all stimulants studied. The present evidence obtained from studies both with intact cells and with isolated plasma membranes indicates that the initial lutropin-induced desensitization of the rat Leydig tumour cell is due to a lesion in the hormone-receptor coupling to the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein. This process is apparently not mediated by cyclic AMP.

Lutropin-dependent protein phosphorylation and steroidogenesis in rat tumour Leydig cells

Tumour Leydig cells have been incubated in the presence or absence of lutropin (luteinizing hormone, ;LH'). Stimulation of cells with lutropin (1000ng/ml) in the presence of 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (0.25mm) resulted in increased steroid production and increased protein phosphorylation. When pregnenolone metabolism was inhibited, basal pregnenolone production was 26.9+/-7.4ng/60min per 10(6) cells; stimulated production was 156.1+/-39.5ng/60min per 10(6) cells (means+/-s.d., n=4). Lutropin-dependent phosphorylated proteins of molecular mass 17000, 22000, 24000, 33000 and 57000Da were detected. A significant increase of [(32)P]P(i) incorporation into these phosphorylated proteins was observed concomitant with the increased pregnenolone production. The occurrence of the phosphoproteins in nuclei, mitochondria and postmitochondrial-supernatant was investigated. The 17000Da phosphoprotein was found in the nuclear fraction, whereas the 22000, 24000, 33000 and 57000Da phosphoproteins were localized in the postmitochondrial-supernatant fraction. Of the cholesterol-side-chain-cleavage activity, 80.3+/-6.1% (mean+/-s.d., n=5) was present in the mitochondrial fraction isolated from tumour Leydig cells, and this activity was 2.5-fold increased when cells had been preincubated with lutropin/1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (basal production: 194.6+/-28.6ng/30min per mg of protein; lutropinstimulated production: 498.8+/-91.5ng/30min per mg of protein; means+/-s.d., n=3). The similarities in the kinetics of the phosphorylation of proteins and the pregnenolone production after addition of lutropin/1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine indicate that the phosphoproteins could be involved in the lutropin-dependent increase in steroidogenesis in tumour Leydig cells. It remains to be demonstrated, however, to what extent the phosphoproteins outside the mitochondria can influence the cholesterol-side-chain-cleavage activity inside the mitochondria.

Effect of lutropin and cycloheximide on lutropin receptors and cyclic AMP production in Leydig tumour cells in vitro

A system to study lutropin-induced desensitization of tumour Leydig cells in vitro has been investigated. Tumour Leydig cells were purified on a Percoll gradient and then incubated for 30 min with lutropin (0-1000ng/ml). The cells were then washed and incubated in suspension media at 32 degrees C. 125I-labelled human choriogonadotropin binding and basal and lutropin-stimulated cyclic AMP production were determined at various times. Initially the cells showed a dose-dependent decrease in human choriogonadotropin binding (1.18 and 0.13fmol/10(6) cells respectively) followed by an increase at 1 h (2.32 and 0.87fmol/10(6) cells respectively). Human choriogonadotropin binding remained elevated in the cells pre-incubated without lutropin, whereas the cells pre-incubated with lutropin showed a dose-dependent decrease over the next 10 h (2.20-0.18fmol/10(6) cells respectively). Basal production of cyclic AMP initially reflected the pre-incubation conditions (1.17-21.19ng/10(6) cells per h for 0-1000ng of lutropin/ml respectively). However, by 1 h there was a marked rise in basal cyclic AMP production which returned to the initial lower values by 4 h. At all time intervals studied, lutropin-induced cyclic AMP production showed a decrease that was proportional to lutropin concentration in the pre-incubated media. The decreases in human choriogonadotropin binding produced by pre-incubations with lutropin (100ng/ml) was partially inhibited by the presence of cycloheximide in the pre-incubation media and totally prevented by the continuous presence of cycloheximide. These results demonstrate that desensitization of tumour Leydig cells occurs after exposure to lutropin in vitro. This desensitization involves both a loss of plasma membrane receptors for lutropin and lutropin-stimulated adenylate cyclase. These events can be prevented by cycloheximide and are therefore probably dependent on protein synthesis.

The heterogeneity of Leydig cells from mouse and rat testes--evidence for a Leydig cell cycle?

A method for purifying Leydig cells by centrifugation of testes cells on continuous density gradients of Percoll has been investigated. The distribution of Leydig cells in the separated bands of cells obtained and their receptor content and testosterone production after addition of lutropin (LH) has been measured. In agreement with previous work (Schumacher, Schäfer, Holstein & Hilz 1978) it was found that highly pure mouse Leydig cells (average density 1.070 g/ml) could be prepared by this method. These cells responded to LH and produced high amounts of testosterone (1 - 4 microgram/10(6) cells/2 h), and bound [125]hCG specifically (25 - 64 fmols hCG bound/10(6)). Similarly from rat testes, Leydig cells (average density 1.072 g/ml) were purified. These cells also responded to LH and produced 5 - 25 ng testosterone/10(6) cells/2 h and bound [125]hCG specifically (3 - 18 fmols hCG bound/10(6)cells). Two other bands of nucleated cells of lower density (approximately 1.045 and 1.052 g/ml) were formed on the gradients from both mouse and rat testes. Both these bands of cells were found to contain Leydig cells which bound [125]hCG specifically but little or not stimulation of testosterone production could be demonstrated. Fractionation of the gradients after separation of the cells into small aliquots demonstrated that fractions containing up to 100% Leydig cells could be isolated which were not stimulated to produce testosterone after addition of LH. It is concluded that in both the adult rat and mouse testes, Leydig cells of different densities and steroidogenic responsiveness to LH exist. The data obtained in this and other studies suggest that Leydig cells in the rat and mouse testes are not a homogeneous population and that they may be undergoing a continuous cycle of activity which involves changes in density and steroidogenic capacity.