Effects of methylxanthines on gonadotropin-induced steroidogenesis and protein synthesis in isolated testis interstitial cells.

The effects of 1-methyl 3-isobutyl xanthine (MIX) and theophylline on basal and gonadotropin-stimulated production of cyclic AMP and testosterone were evaluated in enzyme-dispersed testicular interstitial cells. The actions of these compounds upon precursor incorporation into RNA and protein were also examined in the same cell preparation. The considerable higher potency of MIX as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor was accompanied by a steeper dose-response curve for cyclic AMP recovery in incubation media of hormone-treated cells. Both inhibitors caused increases in basal and hormone-stimulated cyclic AMP levels. Although low concentrations of theophylline and MIX had no effect on the maximum levels of hCG-stimulated testosterone production, 10 mM theophylline and 1 mM MIX significantly inhibited steroidogenesis. Conversely, basal testosterone levels were increased by MIX and theophylline. The higher concentrations of MIX and theophylline also significantly inhibited precursor incorporation into RNA and protein. These actions of phosphodiesterase inhibitors upon RNA and protein synthesis could contribute to their inhibitory effects at high concentrations upon gonadotropin-induced steroidogenesis.