Linked Life Data

2364289

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/2364289

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1990-8-13
pubmed:abstractText
The distribution of the 5 alpha-reductase, the enzyme which converts testosterone into its 'active' metabolite dihydrotestosterone (DHT), has been studied in neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes isolated from the brain of male rats by density gradient ultracentrifugation and in neurons and glial cells grown in cultures. Purity of cellular preparations was examined by electron and light microscopy. Purified neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, obtained from the brain of adult male rats, are all able to form DHT from testosterone and consequently possess a 5 alpha-reductase activity. Among the 3 cell types studied, neurons appear to be more active than oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Moreover, between the two population of glial cells, the oligodendrocytes seem to possess a slightly higher enzymatic activity than that present in the astrocytes. Neurons appeared more active in metabolizing testosterone than glial cells also in cell culture experiments. It is presently believed that the 5 alpha-reduction of testosterone to DHT provides one of the mechanisms through which the hormone becomes effective in the CNS. This is supported by the present findings, which indicate that neurons are the cell population in which the 5 alpha-reductase is more concentrated. However, the presence of a considerable 5 alpha-reductase activity in glial cells indicates that also non-neuronal cells might participate in androgen-mediated events occurring in the brain.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
May
pubmed:issn
0006-8993
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
21
pubmed:volume
516
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
229-36
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1990
pubmed:articleTitle
5 alpha-reductase activity in isolated and cultured neuronal and glial cells of the rat.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Endocrinology, University of Milan, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't