TZP-4238 suppresses plasma testosterone in humans, but its action on the androgen biosynthesis pathway has not been established. Therefore, we researched the testicular testosterone level and the testosterone biosynthesis pathway in vitro in rats before and after receiving a single or continuous oral dose of TZP-4238.
The total testosterone fell to 60% of the basal level within 3-8 hr (p<0.05) and then returned to the control concentration by 24 hr after a single administration of 32mg/kg. The alteration of the plasma testosterone level correlated well with that of the intratesticular level, which was decreased to 50% at 3-8 hr and recovered to the control level by 24 hr. However, the decrement of the plasma LH level at 3-8 hr after a single oral administration was slight and it then returned to the original level at 12 hr. During the 8 weeks of daily administration of 0.5 mg/kg of TZP-4238 or chlormadinone acetate to dogs, the plasma testosterone levels were slightly lower than the basal extent.
In vitro experiments were conducted on the rat testis using the exogenous precursor steroids 20α-hydrox-ycholesterol, pregnenolone and progesterone, in various steps leading to the biosynthesis of testosterone. Trilostane acted at 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (50% inhibition concentration, IC
50 was 1μM), ketoconazole inhibited the 17α-hydroxylase, and C
20, 22,-and C
17,20-lyase activities, with an IC
50 of 1-50μM. Cyproterone acetate inhibited both the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (IC
50;50μM) and C
17,20-lyase. On the other hand, TZP-4238 exhibited a weaker inhibition of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (IC
50;100μM) than cyproterone acetate, but not of hydroxylase and lyase. Though TZP-4238 did not inhibit the increased testosterone level induced by hCG, trilostane markedly inhibited the effect induced by hCG. These in vitro findings confirmed that TZP-4238 has no direct inhibitory effect on testicular steroidogenesis. These findings suggest that TZP-4238 causes a depression in plasma testosterone, and its action appears to be mainly the suppression of pituitary LH secretion.
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