General paper
Opposite effects of sex steroids on 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in the normal and adrenalectomized rat testis

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Abstract

  • 1.

    1. Sex steroids have been shown to regulate the biosynthesis of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD).

  • 2.

    2. In vitro studies showed that oestradiol (E2) or testosterone (T) can interfere with the bioassay of enzyme activity, but not progesterone (P4).

  • 3.

    3. For in vivo studies, the activity of 11β-HSD in the testis of normal and adrenalectomized (ADX) adult male Wistar rats was determined following a daily IM injection of sex steriods for 7 days.

  • 4.

    4. The 11β-HSD activity was significantly reduced (P<0.01) either by E2 or T in normal and ADX rats. The enzyme activity in normal rats given both T and E2 was even lower (P<0.001) than when E2 was given alone.

  • 5.

    5. P4 given to normal and ADX rats increased the enzyme activity higher than normal (P<0.001).

  • 6.

    6. The presence of corticosteroids influenced the effects of E2, but not of T and P4, on 11β-HSD activity.

  • 7.

    7. E2 and T downregulate 11β-HSD activity, whereas P4 increased it. E2 did not act through lowering T level.

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This work was supported by University Kebangsaan Malaysia research grant RD 76/94.

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