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C S Rani

Publications and source records attributed to C S Rani.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Thyroid cell responses to thyrotropin and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate: translocation of protein kinase C and phosphorylation of thyroid cell polypeptide substrates.

Not all of the effects of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) on the thyroid are mediated by activation of the adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system, indicating that other control systems must also exist. Although a calcium-phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) and specific substrates had been identified in thyroid tissue, their responsiveness to TSH and other stimulators has not been determined. In thyroid cells which had been preloaded with [32P]orthophosphate, TSH and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) increased the phosphorylation of a 33K polypeptide substrate within 5 min in a dose-dependent fashion. The effect was observed with 1 mU/ml TSH and 3 nM TPA and was maximal with 100 mU/ml TSH and 100 nM TPA. The biologically inactive analog of TPA, 4 alpha-phorbol, had no effect. Isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) decreased the phosphorylation of the 33K polypeptide and inhibited the effect of TSH and TPA, indicating that the phosphorylation is not mediated by cyclic AMP. TSH and IBMX, but not TPA, augmented phosphorylation of a 38K polypeptide, suggesting involvement of cyclic AMP. In contrast TPA, but not TSH, increased the phosphorylation of 58K and 28K polypeptides. TSH, but not TPA or 4 alpha-phorbol, elevated the cyclic AMP level of thyroid slices. Incubation of thyroid slices with TSH or TPA significantly decreased protein kinase C activity in the 100,000g cytosol fraction and increased it in an extract of plasma membranes. The effect was present within 5 min and was maximal by 30 min. The effect was observed with 100 mU/ml TSH or 1 nM TPA. The stimulation by TSH or TPA of protein kinase C and its translocation from the cytosol to the plasma membranes of thyroid tissue may provide another mechanism for control of thyroid cell metabolism.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Differences in the behavior of luteinizing hormones of various species at the rat gonadal cell receptor site.

The ability of different LH-like hormones, such as hCG, PMSG/equine (e) CG, ovine (o) LH, eLH, and rat (r) LH, to bind to and stimulate steroidogenesis in two types of rat gonadal cells was studied under the same experimental conditions. In both Leydig and granulosa cells, the maximal steroidogenic responses elicited by optimal doses of different LHs present during a 2-h incubation were comparable. However, if the cells were exposed to the different LHs for a brief period and then subjected to interference with hormone action by removing the unbound hormone from the medium by washing or adding specific antisera, differences were observed in the amount of steroid produced during subsequent incubation in hormone-free medium. Thus, in the case of hCG, either of these procedures carried out at 15 or 30 min of incubation had little inhibitory effect on the amount of steroid produced at 2 h, the latter being similar to that produced by cells incubated in the continued presence of hCG for 2 h. With eCG and rLH, the effect was dramatic, in that there was a total inhibition of subsequent steroidogenic response. In cells exposed to eLH and oLH, inhibition of subsequent steroidogenesis due to either removal of the free-hormone or addition of specific antisera at 15 or 30 min was only partial. Although all of the antisera used were equally effective in inhibiting the steroidogenic response to respective gonadotropins when added along with hormones at the beginning of incubation, differences were observed in the degree of inhibition of this response when the same antisera were added at later times of incubation. Thus, when antisera were added 60 min after the hormone, the inhibition of steroidogenesis was total (100%) for eCG, partial (10-40%) for eLH and oLH, and totally lacking in cells treated with hCG. From this, it appears that hCG bound to the receptor probably becomes unavailable for binding to its antibody with time, while in the case of eCG and other LHs used, the antibody can still inhibit the biological activity of the hormone. Studies with 125I-labeled hormones further supported the conclusion that hCG differs from all other LHs in being most tightly bound and, hence, least dissociable, while eCG and rLH dissociate most readily; oLH and eLH can be placed in between these hormones in the extent of their dissociability.

Animals↗

Development of catecholamine responsiveness in granulosa cells from preovulatory rat follicles--dependence on preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge.

Factors responsible for development of catecholamine (CA) responsiveness in granulosa cells (Gc) of preovulatory follicles from immature rats injected with 10 IU of pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) on Day 26 were studied. CA did not stimulate cyclic AMP (cAMP) production in whole follicles isolated before (morning) or after (evening) the preovulatory gonadotropin surge on Day 28, while newly formed corpora lutea found on Day 29 responded to CA. Gc from the preovulatory follicles did not respond to CA when tested immediately after isolation. Gc were cultured for various periods in Eagle's MEM without serum and subsequently tested for a possible stimulation of cAMP and steroidogenic responses by CA. In Gc from follicles isolated in the morning (AM-Gc) and cultured for 12 or 24 h, no response to CA was found, while the Gc isolated in the evening (PM-Gc) and cultured similarly for 12 h showed a marked response to CA both in stimulation of cAMP and progesterone production. By a total or partial elimination of the gonadotropin surge, using pentobarbital in combination with luteinizing hormone (LH) or using specific antisera to LH or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), it was found that previous exposure to LH was necessary for the PM-Gc to develop CA responsiveness during culture. Further, it was possible to induce CA responsiveness in AM-Gc by treatment of rats with LH for a short period in vivo followed by a period of culture. The appearance of CA responsiveness in PM-Gc cultured for 12 h was abolished when cycloheximide (5 micrograms/ml) was present during culture. It appears that the following three conditions have to be satisfied for the isolated Gc to develop CA responsiveness: 1) exposure to LH in vivo, 2) culture for a short period, and 3) an active protein synthesis. It is concluded that under physiological conditions the process of luteinization is associated with acquisition of responsiveness to CA and this process depends on the LH component of the preovulatory gonadotropin surge.

Animals↗

Studies on corticotropin-induced desensitization of normal rat adrenocortical cells.

The effects of prior exposure of normal rat adrenocortical cells to ACTH on the responsiveness of the cells to subsequent stimulation with the hormone have been studied. ACTH induces a time- and concentration-dependent refractoriness of both cAMP formation and steroidogenesis. Desensitization of either response was observed only upon activation of the response. Thus, both ACTH and 8-Br-cAMP caused desensitization of the steroidogenic response. The ACTH-induced desensitization of steroidogenesis, however, was completely prevented by blocking the steroidogenic action of ACTH with aminoglutethimide during exposure of cells to the hormone. Aminoglutethimide had no effect on ACTH-induced desensitization of the cAMP response. Studies with analogs of the hormone also confirmed that induction of desensitization of the steroidogenic response is independent of the desensitization of the cAMP response. Binding studies showed that the insignificant decrease in ACTH receptors could not account for the large changes in the responsiveness induced by prior exposure of cells to ACTH. Desensitization of the steroidogenic response appears to result from a defect in the rate-limiting first step of the steroidogenic pathway, namely conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Follicle-stimulating hormone induction of luteinizing hormone receptor in cultured rat granulosa cells: an examination of the need for steroids in the induction process.

The induction of LH receptors by FSH in cultured rat granulosa cells and the effects of ovarian steroids on this process were examined. Granulosa cells were isolated from the ovaries of untreated immature rats (25 days old) and cultured with highly purified FSH (Sairam; 250 ng/ml). After culture (48-96 h in chemically defined media), both the binding of [125I]hCG and the responsiveness (cAMP and progesterone production) to an acute LH stimulus (100 ng/ml; NIH B8) were measured. The appearance of LH/hCG-binding sites and LH responsiveness indicates the presence of functional LH receptors. The induction of LH receptors by FSH requires a lag period of 24-48 h. After 48 h, the concentration of LH receptors in cultured granulosa cells continues to increase with time in culture with FSH; the continuous presence of FSH is required to maintain the induction process. If granulosa cells are cultured without hormone for 24-48 h before FSH is added, no induction of LH receptors occurs. However, if 17 beta-estradiol (5 X 10(-7) M) is added during this initial period, then the cells are responsive to the later addition of FSH. This maintenance of FSH responsiveness is not observed when dihydrotestosterone or progesterone is substituted for 17 beta-estradiol in the initial culture period. The FSH-dependent induction of LH receptors in cultured rat granulosa cells can be blocked if an inhibitor of steroidogenesis, such as aminoglutethimide phosphate (AGP; 1 mM), is added along with FSH at the initiation of the culture. The inclusion of progesterone, dihydrotestosterone, or 17 beta-estradiol (but not 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone) in the culture together with FSH and AGP will overcome the inhibition by AGP and restore the induction of LH receptors. The results suggest that steroids produced by the developing follicle can modulate the FSH-dependent induction of LH receptors, and this may play a role in the development of follicular responsiveness to LH.

Animals↗

Examination of the role of follicle stimulating hormone in estrogen biosynthesis in vivo and in vitro in the ovary of the cyclic hamster.

The effect of neutralizing endogenous follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) or luteinizing hormone (LH) with specific antisera on the in vivo and in vitro synthesis of estrogen in the ovary of cycling hamster was studied. Neutralization of FSH or LH on proestrus resulted in a reduction in the estradiol concentration of the ovary on diestrus-2 and next proestrus, suggesting an impairment in follicular development. Injection of FSH antiserum at 0900 h of diestrus-2 significantly reduced the ovarian estradiol concentration within 6--7 h. Further, these ovaries on incubation with testosterone (T) in vitro at 1600 h of the same day or the next day synthesized significantly lower amounts of estradiol, compared to corresponding control ovaries. Although testosterone itself, in the absence of endogenous FSH, could stimulate estrogen synthesis to some extent, FSH had to be supplemented with T to restore estrogen synthesis to the level seen in control ovaries incubated with T. Lack of FSH thus appeared to affect the aromatization step in the estrogen biosynthetic pathway in the ovary of hamster on diestrus-2. In contrast to this, FSH antiserum given on the morning of proestrus had no effect on the in vivo and in vitro synthesis of estrogen, when examined 6--7 h later. The results suggest that there could be a difference in the need for FSH at different times of the cycle. Neutralization of LH either on diestrus-2 or proestrus resulted in a drastic reduction in estradiol concentration of the ovary. This block was at the level of androgen synthesis, since supplementing testerone alone in vitro could stimulate estrogen synthesis to a more or less similar extent as in the ovaries of control hamsters.

Animals↗

Examination of the role of FSH in periovulatory events in the hamster.

The need for endogenous FSH in the periovulatory events such as oocyte maturation, ovulation, luteinization, maintenance of luteal function and follicular maturation was examined in the cyclic hamster. A specific antiserum to ovine FSH, shown to be free of antibodies to LH and to cross-react with FSH of the hamster, was used to neutralize endogenous FHS at various times. Administration of this antiserum during pro-oestrus did not affect oocyte maturation and ovulation, as judged by the normality of the ova to undergo fertilization and normal implantation. It also had no effect on the process of luteinization or on the maintenance of luteal function as indicated by the normal levels of plasma and luteal progesterone during pro-oestrus and oestrus during the cycle and in pregnancy. All these processes were, however, disrupted by administration of an antiserum to ovine LH, thereby demonstrating their dependence on endogenous LH. Although FSH antiserum given at pro-oestrus did not prevent the imminent ovulation, it blocked the ovulation occurring at oestrus of the next cycle. This antiserum was effective in preventing the ensuing ovulation when given at any other time of the cycle until the morning of pro-oestrus. It is concluded that, in the hamster, high levels of FSH during pro-oestrus and oestrus are required for initiating maturation of a new set of follicles which are dependent on the trophic support of FSH throughout the cycle until the morning of pro-oestrus. Such follicles then appear to need only LH for subsequent ovulatory and associated processes.

Animals↗

Effect of modulating endogenous prolactin secretion on testosterone production in the adult male bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata).

Adult male bonnet monkeys maintained under regulated light: dark conditions exhibit a nycthemeral surge of testosterone. The present study attempts to determine the effect of administration of drugs that modulate prolactin levels like ergobromocriptine (EBC) and chlorpromazine (CPZ) on testosterone production. The injection of EBC, a known inhibitor of prolactin secretion, could abolish nocturnal testosterone surge irrespective of the drug being given at 8.00 or 17.00 h. Testosterone surge could likewise be inhibited by treating animals with CPZ, a potent stimulator of prolactin secretion. This suggests that alteration in endogenous prolactin level from the normal effects nycthemeral surges of testosterone. The in vivo responsiveness of the testes of monkeys injected either CPZ oder EBC to exogenous LH or LHRH stimulation was tested. While LH could completely override the CPZ induced inhibition in testosterone production it could only partially reverse the EBC effect.

Animals↗