Contribution of potassium in human placental steroidogenesis

The role of K(+) on steroidogenesis in isolated mitochondria from the human placenta was explored. Cholesterol uptake and progesterone synthesis were stimulated by K(+), and by the further addition of ATP. In the presence of glibenclamide or quinine (inhibitors of the K(+) channel mito-K(ATP)), the synthesis of progesterone was improved, indicating that K(+) acts outside the mitochondria. Valinomycin, a K(+)-ionophore, inhibited mitochondrial steroidogenesis only in the absence of K(+). The mitochondrial K(+) channel in human placental mitochondria is formed by the subunit Kir 6.1 which was detected by Western blot with polyclonal antibodies. These results suggest that K(+) contributes placental mitochondrial steroidogenesis facilitating cholesterol uptake and intermembrane translocation through a mechanism non-dependent of the transport of K(+) inside the mitochondria.