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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Ann Natl Acad Med Sci 2020; 56(01): 30-37
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1709091
Original Article

A Novel Antigonadotropic Role of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone on Leydig Cell-Derived Mouse Leydig Tumor Cells-1 Line

Authors

  • Bodhana Dhole

    1   Department of Reproductive Biology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

  • Surabhi Gupta

    1   Department of Reproductive Biology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

  • Skand Shekhar

    2   Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States

  • Anand Kumar   *

    1   Department of Reproductive Biology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

Funding None.
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Abstract

Subclinical hypothyroid men characterized by a rise in only thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, and normal thyroid hormone levels showed a fall in their serum progesterone and testosterone levels. This suggested a role of TSH in regulating Leydig cell steroidogenesis. Therefore, we investigated the direct role of TSH on steroid production and secretion using a mouse Leydig tumor cell line-1 (MLTC-1). MLTC-1 cells were treated with different doses of TSH isolated from porcine pituitary as well as recombinant TSH. Steroid secretion was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The mRNA levels of steroidogenic enzymes were quantitated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), whereas the corresponding protein levels were determined by western blot. In MLTC-1 cells, pituitary TSH as well as recombinant TSH inhibited progesterone and testosterone secretion in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory action of TSH on steroid secretion was unique and not mimicked by other anterior pituitary hormones including follicle stimulating hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone. Recombinant TSH showed no effect on steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and CYP11A1, the enzymes catalyzing the nonsteroidogenic and steroidogenic rate-limiting steps of steroid synthesis, respectively. Recombinant TSH was shown to inhibit steroidogenesis in MLTC-1 cells by inhibiting the 3-β hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase mRNA and protein levels, the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone. This inhibitory effect of TSH is probably direct as both mRNA and protein of the TSH receptor were shown to be present in the MLTC-1 cells.

Keywords

Leydig cells - steroidogenesisthyroid stimulating hormone receptor - thyroid stimulating hormone

* Retired




Publication History

Article published online:
20 April 2020

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