Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2006 Sep;49(9):1934-1940.

The role of angiotensin II to regulation of steroidogenic pathway in human ovarian follicle

• Lee HY
• Ko DS
• Kim HJ
• Oh SO
• Park WI
• Hong SY
• Shin JH
• Lee JY
• Cha BH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The exact mechanism of angiotensin II to steroidogenesis is still speculative in spite of many researches especially in human and these were performed indirectly with serum or follicular fluid. Under the hypothesis that ovarian RAS increases androgen, decreases progesterone synthesis in normal human ovary, we investigated the exact action of angiotnesin II on human ovary.
METHODS
After appliance of angiotensin II and saralasin to the normal human ovarian follicles, we measured sex steroids like progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and enzymes like HSD3beta2, CYP 17 to see the action of angiotensin II and its antagonist, saralasin. The results were analyzed by ANOVA test.
RESULTS
Angiotensin II increased androgen synthesis but did not affect progesterone synthesis. There were no difference of HSD 3beta2 mRNA expression in angiotensin II and saralasin group compared with control group. The expression of CYP17 mRNA was increased by angiotensin II but did not reach statistically significant level.
CONCLUSION
Angiotensin II could increase androgen production probably via overexpression of CYP17, but had no efffect on progesterone production.

Keyword

Human ovary; Angiotensin II; Androgen; Progesterone

MeSH Terms

Angiotensin II*
Angiotensins*
Dehydroepiandrosterone
Female
Follicular Fluid
Humans*
Ovarian Follicle*
Ovary
Progesterone
RNA, Messenger
Saralasin
Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase
Steroids
Testosterone
Angiotensin II
Angiotensins
Dehydroepiandrosterone
Progesterone
RNA, Messenger
Saralasin
Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase
Steroids
Testosterone