The endozepine triakontatetraneuropeptide diazepam-binding inhibitor [17-50] stimulates neurosteroid biosynthesis in the frog hypothalamus (original) (raw)

Neuroscience, 1998

Abstract

Neurons and glial cells are capable of synthesizing various bioactive steroids, but the neuronal mechanisms controlling neurosteroid-secreting cells are poorly understood. In the present study, we have investigated the possible effect of an endogenous ligand of benzodiazepine receptors, the triakontatetraneuropeptide [17-50] (TTN), on steroid biosynthesis in the frog hypothalamus. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that most hypothalamic neurons expressing 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-delta 4-isomerase also contained peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor-like immunoreactivity. Confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis revealed that the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor-immunoreactive material was located both in the cytoplasm and at the periphery of the cell bodies. By using the pulse-chase technique, TTN was found to stimulate the conversion of [3H]pregnenolone into various steroids, including 17-hydroxypregnenolone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and 17-hy...

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