Differential effects of 8-bromo-cyclic AMP on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), progesterone and estrogen production by term placental cells.

The present study examined the effects of a cAMP analog on the output of hCG and progesterone (P) in human term trophoblast cells in culture, as well as the conversion of androstenedione and testosterone to estradiol--17 beta and estrone by these cells. The levels of hCG and P in the culture medium increased throughout the four-day culture period. Addition of 8-bromo-adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP), forskolin or cholera toxin (but not 8-Br-cGMP) stimulated hCG and P production by the cultivated placental cells. In contrast, the presence of 8-Br-cAMP for 2 days significantly decreased basal estradiol-17 beta output, as well as conversion of androstenedione to estradiol-17 beta; the conversion of androstenedione to estrone was not affected. 8-Br-cAMP attenuated the conversion of testosterone to both estradiol-17 beta and estrone. These results further support the view that cAMP could have both stimulatory and inhibitory actions on placental hormonogenesis.