β-Adrenergic stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation in rat prostatic epithelial cells during sexual maturation

• Published in: Mechanisms of ageing and development Vol. 52; no. 1; pp. 79 - 86
• Main Authors: Carmena, Maria J., Hueso, Consolacion, Recio, Maria N., Prieto, Juan C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.03.1990; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adrenergic beta-Agonists - pharmacokinetics; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic AMP - metabolism; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium - drug effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Prostate; Prostate - cytology; Prostate - drug effects; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Sexual differentiation and maturation. Puberty. Climacterium; Sexual maturation; Sexual Maturation - drug effects; Vertebrates: reproduction; β-Adrenergic agonist; Sexual maturation; Cyclic AMP; Prostate; β-Adrenergic agonist; Epinephrine; Human; Puberty; Vertebrata; Agonist; Mammalia; Androgen; Castration; Rat; Rodentia
• ISSN: 0047-6374; 1872-6216
• DOI: 10.1016/0047-6374(90)90146-7

The effect of age, castration and androgen-replacement therapy upon the stimulatory activity of the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol on cyclic AMP accumulation was determined in rat prostatic epithelial cells. The potency of isoproterenol was similar in all experimental models (ED 50 = 0.3–0.4 μM). Mature animals showed a lower efficiency of isoproterenol than that of pubertal rats. Pubertal rats (which are absolutely dependent on androgens) exhibited an increase of the responsiveness of prostatic cyclic AMP to isoproterenol after castration, mormalization being reached after subsequent testosterone treatment; this feature could be reproduced by in vitro incubation of the corresponding cells with testosterone or dihydrotestosterone. Mature rats (which are relatively dependent on androgens) maintained the efficiency of isoproterenol upon prostatic cyclic AMP after castration, and testosterone therapy elicited an increase of this activity. The present study contributes original observations mainly in the puberty period and supports the importance of the androgenic status not only for direct actions of androgens but also for the regulation of many other hormone/neurotransmitter/growth factor receptor-effector systems.