M. Bramucci et al., DIFFERENT MODULATION OF STEROIDOGENESIS AND PROSTAGLANDIN PRODUCTION IN FROG OVARY IN-VITRO BY ACE AND ANG-II, American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology, 42(6), 1997, pp. 2089-2096
Our aim was to study the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) a
nd angiotensin II (ANG II) on ovarian steroidogenesis and prostaglandi
n production of amphibian. Hormonal effects of ACE, ACE inhibitors, sy
nthetic bullfrog angiotensin I(ANG I), and [Val(5)]ANG II were compare
d on frog ovaries of postreproductive and prereproductive periods. Ver
y high ACE activity was found in ovary of water frog (Rana esculenta)
compared with other frog tissues, and this activity was inhibited by t
he typical ACE inhibitors, captopril and lisinopril. Frog ovary tissue
in postreproductive and prereproductive periods was incubated in vitr
o in the presence of ACE (2.5 mU/ml), captopril (0.1 mM), lisinopril (
0.1 mM), [Val(5)]ANG II (1 mu M), and synthetic bullfrog ANG I (1 mu M
). Production of 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone, androgens, and prost
aglandins E-2 and F-2 alpha was determined. The data showed a modulati
on of 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone, and prostaglandin E-2 productio
n by ovary ACE; on the other hand, [Val(5)]ANG II modulated the produc
tion of progesterone and prostaglandin F-2 alpha, whereas androgen pro
duction was not influenced. The present in vitro studies suggest the e
xistence of two pathways independently regulated by ACE and ANG II mod
ulating ovarian steroidogenesis and prostaglandin production.