Supraphysiological leptin levels shift the profile of steroidogenesis in porcine ovarian follicles toward progesterone and testosterone secretion through increased expressions of CYP11A1 and 17β-HSD: a tissue culture approach

Abstract

Evidence from both clinical and animal studies suggests that exposure to excess androgens results in cyst formation. The present in vitro study assessed the effects of supraphysiological concentrations of leptin (20 and 40 ng/ml) on progesterone (P4), androstenedione androstendione (A4), testosterone and estradiol (E2) secretion by ELISA and the expression of CYP11A1, CYP17, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) and CYP19 by western blot to answer the question of whether leptin could be independent risk factor for cyst formation in pigs. Small- and medium-sized ovarian follicles were collected from prepubertal and cycling pigs. Increased P4 and testosterone secretions were observed in both small- and medium-sized follicles in prepubertal and cycling animals whereas there was no change in E2 secretion. Leptin treatment resulted in an increase in CYP11A1 and 17β-HSD protein expression but had no effect on CYP17 and CYP19 expression in follicles of either size from prepubertal and cycling pigs. Results of presented data suggest that leptin in elevated doses, by stimulatory effect on CYP11A1 and 17β-HSD protein expression resulting in elevated P4 and testosterone secretions could be an independent risk factor for cyst formation in both prepubertal and cycling pigs.

ACTH-induced stress in weaned sows impairs LH receptor expression and steroidogenesis capacity in the ovary

“…Decrease in the levels of steroid hormone can influence follicular development and even ovulation [16–18]. In general, androgens are secreted in granulosa cells and converted to E 2 by P450arom; androgen levels are higher when the expression of the aromatase is suppressed, and this contributes to the formation of ovarian cysts [19]. Increased plasma cortisol levels lead to a decrease in the expression of steroidogenic enzymes and impair the synthesis capacity of E 2 [20].…”

Vitamin D3 in cancer prevention and therapy: the nutritional issue

“…Progesterone is able to increase VDR in T cells [66]; in addition, it cannot affect leptin or other orexins, such as ghrelin or resistin, but increases adiponectin and reduces IL-6 release from WAT, thus reducing the WAT-mediated pro-inflammatory response [67]. Furthermore, calcitriol can increase progesterone release from gonadic tissue [68] and a comparable effect has been reported also for circulating leptin [69]. This complex inter-relationship between leptin and calcitriol ( Figure 1) should suggest that these two hormones play similar tasks in the puzzling mechanism regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, energetic balance, stress response, and lifespan, though with different targets.…”

Gestational N-hexane inhalation alters the expression of genes related to ovarian hormone production and DNA methylation states in adult female F1 rat offspring

“…The Star, Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1 and Hsd3b genes are key factors in the synthesis of progesterone and oestradiol (Gregoraszczuk and Rak-Mardyla, 2013;Strauss JF III and Barbieri, 2009). The Star protein is a major regulatory factor in the production of gonadal hormones and determines the amount of synthesized steroid hormones, especially progesterone.…”