Metabolism of steroids in pure cultures of neurons and glial cells: Role of intracellular signalling

• Published in: Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology 1995-06, Vol.53 (1), p.331-336
• Main Authors: Melcangi, R.C., Ballabio, M., Magnaghi, V., Celotti, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases - metabolism; 8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate - pharmacology; Animals; Astrocytes - metabolism; Biochemistry and metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; Central nervous system; Cholestenone 5 alpha-Reductase; Dihydrotestosterone - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; In Vitro Techniques; Neuroglia - metabolism; Neurons - metabolism; Oxidoreductases - metabolism; Second Messenger Systems; Signal Transduction; Steroids - metabolism; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate - pharmacology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0960-0760; 1879-1220
• DOI: 10.1016/0960-0760(95)00071-7

In the brain, the 5α-reductase converting testosterone (T) is present both in neurons and in glial cells, even if it prevails in neurons; the 3α-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase (3α-HSD), the enzyme converting dihydrotestosterone (DHT) into 3α-diol, is particularly concentrated in type 1 astrocytes. In glial cells, since the 5α-reductase is activated by a cAMP analogue, PKA seems to be invlved in the control of this enzyme, postulating that nervous inputs utilizing cAMP as the second messenger might modify the activity of this enzyme in glial cells. Moreover, the results indicate that, in type 1 astrocytes, both the 5α-reductase and the 3α-HSD are stimulated by the co-culture with neurons and by the addition of neuron-conditioned medium, suggesting that secretory products released by neurons might intervene in the control of glial cell function.