Inhibitory effect of digoxin on testosterone secretion through mechanisms involving decreases of cyclic AMP production and cytochrome P450scc activity in rat testicular interstitial cells.

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Citation

Lin H, Wang SW, Tsai SC, Chen JJ, Chiao YC, Lu CC, Huang WJ, Wang GJ, Chen CF, Wang PS

Inhibitory effect of digoxin on testosterone secretion through mechanisms involving decreases of cyclic AMP production and cytochrome P450scc activity in rat testicular interstitial cells.

Br J Pharmacol. 1998 Dec;125(8):1635-40.

PubMed ID
9886754 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

1. In vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to examine inhibitory effects of digoxin on testosterone secretion and to determine possible underlying mechanisms. 2. A single intravenous injection of digoxin (1 microg kg(-1)) decreased the basal and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated plasma testosterone concentrations in adult male rats. 3. Digoxin (10(-7) - 10(-4) M) decreased the basal and hCG-stimulated release of testosterone from rat testicular interstitial cells in vitro. 4. Digoxin (10(-7) - 10(-4) M) also diminished the basal and hCG-stimulated production of cyclic 3':5'-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and attenuated the stimulatory effects of forskolin and 8-Br-cyclic AMP on testosterone production by rat testicular interstitial cells. 5. Digoxin (10(-4) M) inhibited cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme (cytochrome P450sec) activity (conversion of 25-hydroxy cholesterol to pregnenolone) in the testicular interstitial cells but did not influence the activity of other steroidogenic enzymes. 6. These results suggest that digoxin inhibits the production of testosterone in rat testicular interstitial cells, at least in part, via attenuation of the activities of adenylyl cyclase and cytochrome P450sec.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
DigoxinCholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, mitochondrialProteinHumans
Unknown
Inhibitor
Details