The opioid agonist ethylketocyclazocine reverts the rapid, non-genomic effects of membrane testosterone receptors in the human prostate LNCaP cell line. | LitMetric
Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, University of Crete, School of Medicine, 71110, Heraklion, Greece.
Published: April 2004
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Article Abstract
Neuropeptides influence cancer cell replication and growth. Opioid peptides, and opiergic neurons are found in the prostate gland, and they are proposed to exert a role in tumor regulation, influencing cancer cell growth, as opioid agonists inhibit cell growth in several systems, including the human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. In the same cell line, the existence of membrane testosterone receptors was recently reported, which increase, in a non-genomic manner, the secretion of PSA, and modify actin cytoskeleton dynamics, through the signaling cascade FAK-->PI-3 kinase-->Cdc42/Rac1. In the present work, we present data supporting that the general opioid agonist Ethylketocyclazocine (EKC) decreases testosterone-BSA (a non-internalizable testosterone analog) induced PSA secretion. Furthermore, we report that this opioid affects this non-genomic testosterone action, by modifying the distribution of the actin cytoskeleton in the cells, disrupting the above signaling cascade. In addition, after long (>24 h) incubation, opioids decrease the number of membrane testosterone receptors, and reverse their effect on the signaling molecules. In conclusion, our results provide some new insights of a possible action of opioids in prostate cancer control by interfering with the action and the expression of membrane testosterone receptors and signaling.
Animal Science and Technology College, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, PR China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Product Processing and Quality Control (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PR China. Electronic address:
This study investigated the effects of dietary lycopene supplementation on semen quality, testicular histology, antioxidant capacity, and reproductive hormone levels in aging breeder roosters. A total of 96 roosters were randomly divided into four groups and supplemented with 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of lycopene for six weeks. Lycopene significantly improved semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, viability, and morphological parameters at all doses (P < 0.
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Androgens typically act through nuclear androgen receptors, but they can also activate non-genomic signaling through membrane proteins. How androgens can influence development through membrane-associated androgen signaling pathways is not well understood. In a new study, Daniel Gorelick and colleagues conduct a chemical-genetic screen and identify that testosterone acts through GPRC6A, a G-protein-coupled receptor, during zebrafish embryonic development.
Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility. The ketogenic diet (KD), a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates, has been applied clinically for the treatment of obese women with PCOS. We have previously demonstrated that KD improved the reproductive phenotype in an androgen-induced PCOS mouse model, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unclear.
* Studied how testosterone influenced sperm quality during cryopreservation, finding that it negatively impacted acrosome integrity in mouflons and ibexes, especially when combined with the aquaporin blocker phloretin.
* Concluded that testosterone and the AQP blocker adversely affect sperm cryoresistance, contributing to an understanding of seasonal changes in sperm freezing capacity in ruminants.
