Ergosteroids V: preparation and biological activity of various D-ring derivatives in the 7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone series.

Our previous finding that D-ring seco derivatives of dehydroepiandrosterone retained biologic activity (Reich et al., Steroids 1998;63:542-53) motivated us to synthesize and test a number of steroids in which the D-ring is retained but altered in various ways. Several new steroids were synthesized and characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy.

Ergosteroids IV: synthesis and biological activity of steroid glucuronosides, ethers, and alkylcarbonates.

The 7-oxo derivative of dehydroepiandrosterone is more active than the parent steroid and is devoid of adverse side effects in rats, monkeys and humans. In anticipation of possible therapeutic use we have sought more active, longer lasting forms of 7-oxo- and 7beta-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterones. The 7-oxo- and 7-hydroxy steroids have been converted to glucuronides, ethers and carbonate esters.

Short-term hypothermia activates hepatic mitochondrial sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and thermogenic systems.

The contribution of the sn-glycerol-3-phosphate (G-3-P) shuttle in the control of energy metabolism is well established. It is also known that its activity may be modulated by hormones involved in thermogenesis, such as thyroid hormones or dehydroepiandrosterone and its metabolites, that act by inducing de novo synthesis of mitochondrial G-3-P dehydrogenase (mGPDH). However, little is known as to the factors that may influence the activity without enzyme induction.

Thyroid hormone and dehydroepiandrosterone permit gluconeogenic hormone responses in hepatocytes.

The importance of the sn-glycerol- 3-phosphate (G-3-P) electron transfer shuttle in hormonal regulation of gluconeogenesis was examined in hepatocytes from rats with decreased mitochondrial G-3-P dehydrogenase activity (thyroidectomized) or increased G-3-P dehydrogenase activity [triiodothyronine (T(3)) or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treated]. Rates of glucose formation from 10 mM lactate, 10 mM pyruvate, or 2.5 mM dihydroxyacetone were somewhat less in hypothyroid cells than in cells from normal rats but gluconeogenic responses to calcium addition and to norepinephrine (NE), glucagon (G), or vasopressin (VP) were similar to the responses observed in cells from normal rats.

Flux of the L-serine metabolism in rat liver. The predominant contribution of serine dehydratase.

L-Serine metabolism in rat liver was investigated, focusing on the relative contributions of the three pathways, one initiated by L-serine dehydratase (SDH), another by serine:pyruvate/alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase (SPT/AGT), and the other involving serine hydroxymethyltransferase and the mitochondrial glycine cleavage enzyme system (GCS). Because serine hydroxymethyltransferase is responsible for the interconversion between serine and glycine, SDH, SPT/AGT, and GCS were considered to be the metabolic exits of the serine-glycine pool. In vitro, flux through SDH was predominant in both 24-h starved and glucagon-treated rats.

Ergosteroids III. Syntheses and biological activity of seco-steroids related to dehydroepiandrosterone.

The unusual activity of some D-ring-seco estrogens led us to prepare several seco steroids related to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and to test for their ability to mimic thyroid hormone and 7-oxo-DHEA (1) as inducers of thermogenic enzymes in rats' livers. Only one, 3 beta-acetoxy-17a-oxa-androst-5-ene-7,17-dione (17), was capable of inducing both mitochondrial glycerophosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme. The closely related 3 beta-hydroxy-17a-oxa-androsta-5,15-diene-7,17-diones (both 14 alpha and 14 beta, 14 and 15) induce the formation of malic enzyme but not of glycerophosphate dehydrogenase.

Ergosteroids. II: Biologically active metabolites and synthetic derivatives of dehydroepiandrosterone.

An improved procedure for the synthesis of 3 beta-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-7,17-dione, a natural metabolite of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is described. The synthesis and magnetic resonance spectra of several other related steroids are presented. Feeding dehydroepiandrosterone to rats induces enhanced formation of several liver enzymes among which are mitochondrial sn-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) and cytosolic malic enzyme.

The effects of the ergosteroid 7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone on mitochondrial membrane potential: possible relationship to thermogenesis.

Administered 3 beta-hydroxyandrost-5-ene-7,17-dione (7-oxo-DHEA) is more effective than 3 beta-hydroxyandrost-5-en-7-one (DHEA) as an inducer of liver mitochondrial sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and cytosolic malic enzyme in rats. Like DHEA, the 7-oxo metabolite enhances liver catalase, fatty acylCoA oxidase, cytosolic sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, mitochondrial substrate oxidation rate, and the reconstructed sn-glycerol 3-phosphate shuttle. The mitochondrial adenine nucleotide carrier is diminished by thyroidectomy and is restored to normal activity by administering 7-oxo-DHEA.

Ergosteroids: induction of thermogenic enzymes in liver of rats treated with steroids derived from dehydroepiandrosterone.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an intermediate in the biosynthesis of testosterone and estrogens, exerts several physiological effects not involving the sex hormones. When fed to rats it induces the thermogenic enzymes mitochondrial sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and cytosolic malic enzyme in their livers. Animals and humans, and their excised tissues, are known to hydroxylate DHEA at several positions and to interconvert 7 alpha-hydroxy-DHEA, 7 beta-hydroxy-DHEA, 7-oxo-DHEA, and the corresponding derivatives of androst-5-enediol.

Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone and carnitine treatment on rat liver.

It is well established that DHEA treatment is associated in the rat to an increase in fatty acids metabolism. This condition would require levels of L-carnitine much higher than those physiologically present in the liver. The possibility thus exist that during DHEA treatment the concentration of L-carnitine may become a limiting factor for fatty acids oxidation and therefore responsible of some of the effects observed after administration of the hormone.

Comparative studies of effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on rat and chicken liver.

1. An attempt to identify the cause of decrease of gain in body weight during dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment was made comparing the effects of hormone treatment on chickens and rats. 2.

Concerning the mechanism of increased thermogenesis in rats treated with dehydroepiandrosterone.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment of rats decreases gain of body weight without affecting food intake; simultaneously, the activities of liver malic enzyme and cytosolic glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase are increased. In the present study experiments were conducted to test the possibility that DHEA enhances thermogenesis and decreases metabolic efficiency via transhydrogenation of cytosolic NADPH into mitochondrial FADH2 with a consequent loss of energy as heat. The following results provide evidence which supports the proposed hypothesis: (a) the activities of cytosolic enzymes involved in NADPH production (malic enzyme, cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase, and aconitase) are increased after DHEA treatment; (b) cytosolic glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase may use both NAD+ and NADP+ as coenzymes; (c) activities of both cytosolic and mitochondrial forms of glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase are increased by DHEA treatment; (d) cytosol obtained from DHEA-treated rats synthesizes more glycerol-3-P during incubation with fructose-1,6-P2 (used as source of dihydroxyacetone phosphate) and NADP+; the addition of citrate in vitro further increases this difference; (e) mitochondria prepared from DHEA-treated rats more rapidly consume glycerol-3-P added exogenously or formed endogenously in the cytosol in the presence of fructose-1,6-P2 and NADP+.

Inhibition by 2,5-anhydromannitol of glycolysis in isolated rat hepatocytes and in Ehrlich ascites cells.

2,5-Anhydromannitol decreases lactate formation and 3H2O formation from [5-3H]glucose in isolated rat hepatocytes metabolizing high concentrations of glucose. The inhibition of glycolysis is accompanied by a slight decrease in the cellular content of fructose-6-P and a more substantial decrease in the cellular content of fructose-1,6-P2, with no change in the content of glucose-6-P. The 3H2O release data and changes in hexosephosphate distribution indicate possible inhibitions at phosphofructokinase-1 and phosphoglucose isomerase.

Mechanism of action of 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol in hepatocytes. Effects of phosphorylated metabolites on enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism.

Isolated rat hepatocytes convert 2,5-anhydromannitol to 2,5-anhydromannitol-1-P and 2,5-anhydromannitol-1,6-P2. Cellular concentrations of the monophosphate and bisphosphate are proportional to the concentration of 2,5-anhydromannitol and are decreased by gluconeogenic substrates but not by glucose. Rat liver phosphofructokinase-1 phosphorylates 2,5-anhydromannitol-1-P; the rate is less than that for fructose-6-P but is stimulated by fructose-2,6-P2.

Regulation of gluconeogenesis by norepinephrine, vasopressin, and angiotensin II: a comparative study in the absence and presence of extracellular Ca2+1.

In hepatocytes isolated from fasted rats, vasopressin and angiotensin II stimulate the rate of gluconeogenesis from lactate or pyruvate in a Ca2+-dependent manner similar to that previously reported for norepinephrine. Actions of the peptide hormones on gluconeogenesis from glycerol or sorbitol, reduced substrates that require oxidation before they enter the gluconeogenic pathway at triosephosphate, also resemble those of norepinephrine. Stimulation of glucose production from these substrates is observed only in the presence of extracellular Ca2+.

Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism by 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol.

In hepatocytes isolated from fasted rats, 2,5-anhydromannitol inhibits gluconeogenesis from lactate plus pyruvate and from substrates that enter the gluconeogenic pathway as triose phosphate. This fructose analog has no effect, however, on gluconeogenesis from xylitol, a substrate that enters the pathway primarily as fructose 6-phosphate. The sensitivity of gluconeogenesis to 2,5-anhydromannitol depends on the substrate metabolized; concentrations of 2,5-anhydromannitol required for 50% inhibition increase in the order lactate plus pyruvate less than dihydroxyacetone less than glycerol less than sorbitol less than fructose.

Glucose inhibition of epinephrine stimulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis by blockade of the alpha-receptor function.

For isolated rat hepatocytes, glucagon, 3':5'-cyclic AMP, 3':5'-cyclic GMP, and epinephrine stimulate the rate of gluconeogenesis from substrates not involving pathways of mitochondrial metabolism. From estimation of the rates of glucose formation, fructose 6-phosphate phosphorylation, and lactate and pyruvate formation it is concluded that epinephrine and 3':5'-cyclic GMP stimulate gluconeogenesis from either galactose or fructose by influencing the rate of reactions involving fructose 6-phosphate in a manner similar to that already reported for glucagon and 3':5'-cyclic AMP. Each agent acts to inhibit flux through phosphofructokinase (EC 2.