Multiple mechanisms for regulation of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5----delta 4-isomerase, 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase cytochrome P450, and cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 messenger ribonucleic acid levels in primary cultures of mouse Leydig cells.

The regulation of mRNA levels for delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5----delta 4-isomerase (3 beta HSD), 17 alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase cytochrome P450 (P450(17 alpha] and cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc) was studied in primary cultures of mouse Leydig cells. Treatment of Leydig cells with 8-bromo-cAMP (cAMP) was essential for expression of P450(17 alpha) mRNA, but not for 3 beta HSD. Treatment with cAMP caused a decrease in basal levels of 3 beta HSD mRNA. The addition of aminoglutethimide (AG), an inhibitor of cholesterol metabolism, to the cAMP-treated cultures resulted in increased expression of both 3 beta HSD and P450(17 alpha) mRNA levels. The addition of testosterone or the androgen agonist mibolerone to cAMP- plus AG-treated cultures reduced 3 beta HSD and P450(17 alpha) mRNA to levels comparable to those observed when cells were treated with cAMP only. The glucocorticoid dexamethasone reduced both basal and cAMP- plus AG-induced increases in 3 beta HSD mRNA, but not in P450(17 alpha) mRNA. Estradiol at a concentration of 1 microM had no effect on cAMP- plus AG-induced 3 beta HSD or P450(17 alpha) mRNA levels. The role of protein synthesis in mediating the cAMP induction of 3 beta HSD, P450(17 alpha), and P450scc was investigated. The addition of cycloheximide (10 micrograms/ml) to cAMP-treated cultures for 24 h completely suppressed both constitutive and cAMP-induced 3 beta HSD mRNA levels. Cycloheximide also repressed cAMP-induced levels of P450(17 alpha) to 12% of levels observed in the absence of cycloheximide. In sharp contrast, 24-h treatment with cycloheximide did not suppress cAMP induction of P450scc mRNA, but reduced basal levels by approximately 50%. A time course of induction by cAMP (50 microM) of P450(17 alpha) and P450scc mRNA showed very similar rates of increase in P450(17 alpha) and P450scc mRNA, with the greatest increase occurring between 12 and 24 h of treatment. The results of the study demonstrate that in normal mouse Leydig cells steady state levels of mRNA for 3 beta HSD, P450(17 alpha), and P450scc are differentially regulated. cAMP is required for maximal levels of all three mRNAs. There is high constitutive expression of 3 beta HSD and P450scc mRNA, while expression of P450(17 alpha) mRNA is absolutely dependent on cAMP stimulation. Endogenously produced testosterone negatively regulates the expression of cAMP-induced P450(17 alpha) and 3 beta HSD, while the glucocorticoid dexamethasone negatively regulates 3 beta HSD and P450scc.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)