Inhibition of testosterone 5 alpha-reductase: evidence for tissue-specific regulation of thromboxane A2 receptors.

Abstract

Testosterone has been implicated as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) may be an important pathophysiologic mediator for them. Testosterone has been shown to increase TXA2 receptor density in several cell types. Testosterone is reduced at the 5 alpha position to its active metabolite, dihydrotestosterone, by 5 alpha-reductase. We determined the effects of epristeride, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, on the density of TXA2 receptors in rat aortic smooth muscle cells and human erythroleukemia cells, a megakaryocyte-like cell, in vitro, and in rat platelets and aortic membranes in vivo. In rat aortic smooth muscle cells, epristeride significantly (P < .01, n = 5) blocked the effect of testosterone to increase TXA2 receptor density (Bmax: 44 +/- 3, 76 +/- 7, 48 +/- 4 and 46 +/- 4 fmol/mg protein, for control cells, cells treated with testosterone (200 nM), cells treated with testosterone and epristeride (10 nM) and cells treated with epristeride, respectively. Epristeride did not block the effect of testosterone in human erythroleukemia cells. Treatment of male rats with epristeride for 2 weeks significantly (P < .01) decreased TXA2 receptor density in aortic membranes (41 +/- 3 for vehicle, n = 10; 27 +/- 3 fmol/mg protein for epristeride, n = 11) but did not significantly change TXA2 receptor density in platelets. Maximum contractile responses of rat aortas to U46619, a TXA2 mimetic, were significantly (P < .001) lower in epristeride-treated rats than in vehicle-treated rats (4.2 +/- 0.1 for vehicle, n = 16, 3.0 +/- 0.2 g tension for epristeride, n = 15). In conclusion, regulation of expression of TXA2 receptors by testosterone in cells of vascular origin, but not in platelets, appears to be via DHT.

• Authors: K Higashiura, B Blaney, E Morgan, R S Mathur, P V Halushka
• Journal: The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics (J Pharmacol Exp Ther) Vol. 279 Issue 3 Pg. 1386-91 (Dec 1996) ISSN: 0022-3565 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8968363 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors
• Androstadienes
• Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
• Iodine Radioisotopes
• Receptors, Thromboxane
• Angiotensin II
• 7-(3-(3-hydroxy-4-(4'-iodophenoxy)-1-butenyl)-7-oxabicyclo(2.2.1)heptan-2-yl)-5-heptenoic acid
• epristeride
• Potassium Chloride
• Norepinephrine

Topics

• 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors
• Androstadienes (pharmacology)
• Angiotensin II (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Aorta (drug effects, metabolism, physiology)
• Blood Platelets (drug effects, metabolism)
• Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic
• Cell Line
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
• Humans
• Iodine Radioisotopes
• Male
• Muscle Contraction (drug effects)
• Norepinephrine (pharmacology)
• Potassium Chloride (pharmacology)
• Radioligand Assay
• Rats
• Receptors, Thromboxane (agonists, metabolism)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured