A characterization of estrogen's influence on anterior pituitary androgen receptor: effect of bromocriptine treatment

The action of gonadal steroids are mediated through the binding to specific intracellular receptors. Our recent studies have demonstrated that estrogen (E) treatment will increase the concentration of cytosolic androgen receptor (AR) in the anterior pituitary (AP) gland perhaps reflecting in increased sensitivity of this tissue circulating androgen. However, chronic E treatment also increases AP weight and cell number. Consequently, the following studies were performed to determine the relationship between increases in AP cytosolic AR and increases in AP weight following chronic E treatment. Gonadectomized male and female Fischer 344 (F344) rats were implanted with a 5-mm Silastic capsule of 17 beta-estradiol. Control animals were sham implanted. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7 and 21 days after the commencement of E treatment and AP glands were weighed and processed for cytosolic AR and nuclear estrogen receptor (ER) content. AR and ER were determined by in vitro binding assays using 3H-dihydrotestosterone and 3H-estradiol, respectively. AP weight increased significantly by 3 days of E treatment in females and by 7 days in males (p less than 0.05). However, AP weight of E-treated males was significantly less than females throughout (p less than 0.05). Significant increases in AP cytosolic AR content (fmol bound/gland) were detected within 1 day of E treatment to female rats but not until 7 days in male rats. AP cytosolic AR content peaked at 7 days of E treatment in females and 21 days in males. AP cytosolic AR concentration (expressed as per milligram cytosol protein) peaked 3 days after E at which time there were significant E effects in both males and females.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)