Nitric oxide control of steroidogenesis: Endocrine effects of N sup G -nitro-L-arginine and comparisons to alcohol

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1991 · Life Sciences; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-3205(92)90384-2· OSTI ID:5551670

Adams, M L; Nock, B; Truong, R; Cicero, T J ^[1]

---

1. Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (United States)

Recent studies suggest that nitric oxide (NO) may regulate hormone biosynthesis and secretion. This was tested by treating male rats with N{sup G}-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME), a NO synthase inhibitor, and measuring serum and testicular interstitial fluid testosterone and serum corticosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin (PRL). The effect of N{sup G}-nitro-L-arginine (NA), a less-soluble form of the same NO synthase inhibitor, on the reproductive suppressant actions of alcohol was also examined. NAME increased testosterone and corticosterone secretion dose-dependently without affecting LH and PRL secretion. The alcohol-induced suppression of testosterone or LH secretion was not altered by treatment with NA. Although effects of NAME and NA on other systems may be involved, these results indicate that testicular and adrenal steroidogenesis are negatively regulated by endogenous NO and that NO does not regulate LH and PRL secretion or inhibit the testicular steroidogenic pathway in the same way as alcohol.

• OSTI ID: 5551670
• Journal Information: Life Sciences; (United States), Journal Name: Life Sciences; (United States) Vol. 50:6; ISSN 0024-3205; ISSN LIFSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADRENAL HORMONES
ALCOHOLS
ANDROGENS
ANDROSTANES
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CORTICOSTEROIDS
CORTICOSTERONE
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ENZYME INHIBITORS
GLUCOCORTICOIDS
GONADOTROPINS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KETONES
KINETICS
LH
LTH
METABOLISM
NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
PREGNANES
PROTEINS
REACTION KINETICS
SECRETION
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
TESTOSTERONE