An Interaction of Testosterone with Cell Membranes

Summary

The existence of an early effect of testosterone, prior to the effects dependent upon interaction between the hormone-citosolic receptor complex and the cellular nucleus, has been explored in the present paper, in 3-day old chickens. Liver glycogen phosphorylase activity is increased before protein synthesis activation, and furthermore this effect is not blocked by antibiotics (actinomicin D and cycloheximide) inhibitor of protein synthesis. When liver phosphorylase is activated, cAMP levels are not enhanced, as would be expected, but deeply depleted. The hypothesis of a phosphorylase-kinase activation due to an increase in the intracellular Ca⁺⁺ concentration is considered.

Key-Words:

Testosterone - Protein Synthesis - Glycogen Phosphorylase - Cyclic AMP