ANDROGEN SYNTHESIS MODULATION BY PROSTAGLANDIN-E2 IS DIFFERENTIALLY MEDIATED VIA ADENYLATE-CYCLASE AND PHOSPHOLIPASE-C IN THE TESTIS OF THECRESTED NEWT, TRITURUS-CARNIFEX - IN-VITRO STUDIES

To study the possible postreceptor mechanisms of prostaglandin E2 in m odulating the male newt Triturus carnifex androgen synthesis, during r eproduction, testes were in vitro superfused with medium alone, prosta glandin E2, protein kinase C activator (phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetat e), prostaglandin E2 plus protein kinase C inhibitor (staurosporine), prostaglandin E2 plus phospholipase C inhibitor (compound 48/80), cAMP analog (dibutyryl cAMP) adenylate cyclase activator (forskolin), pros taglandin E2 plus AC inhibitor (2-0-methyladenosine), prostaglandin E2 plus protein kinase A inhibitor (H-89). In January (reproduction begi nning), prostaglandin E2 and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate increased androgens, while staurosporine and compound 48/80 counteracted the pr ostaglandin E2 effect. In March (reproduction ending), prostaglandin E 2, dibutyryl cAMP and forskolin decreased androgens, while 2-0-methyla denosine and H-89 counteracted the prostaglandin E2 effect. These data suggest that in Triturus carnifex prostaglandin E2 increases testicul ar androgens synthesis via phospholipase C at reproduction beginning; on the contrary, this prostaglandin decreases androgens via adenylate cyclase at reproduction ending. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.