RESUMO
PROBLEM: To determine whether prostatein, the major protein produced and secreted into the seminal fluid by the rat ventral prostate has any effect on the phagocytic cell functions in vitro. METHOD OF STUDY: Analysis was done by determining if purified prostatein added to cells obtained from the peritoneal cavity has any effect on their phagocytic and intracellular killing capacity. Also, we analyzed the effect of prostatein on the production of oxygen and nitrogen intermediates, measuring these metabolites by Nitroblue tetrazolium assay and by the Griess reaction respectively. RESULTS: Prostatein possess the ability to inhibit in vitro the phagocytic and killing properties of peritoneal rat leukocytes in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of a polyclonal antiserum against prostatein specifically blocks this inhibitory effect. Moreover, prostatein inhibits the production of oxygen and nitrogen intermediates by these cells. CONCLUSION: Regulation of the production of reactive oxygen species in the reproductive tract is extremely necessary to avoid their deleterious effects on the sperm motility and the fertilization process. We propose that prostatein, a protein supplied by an accessory gland like prostate, can inhibit the macrophage function, showing an important antioxidant effect.
Assuntos
Proteína de Ligação a Androgênios/farmacologia , Fagócitos/imunologia , Proteína de Ligação a Androgênios/fisiologia , Proteína de Ligação a Androgênios/toxicidade , Animais , Líquido Ascítico/citologia , Líquido Ascítico/metabolismo , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Feminino , Leucócitos/química , Masculino , Fagócitos/citologia , Fagócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Fagocitose/efeitos dos fármacos , Próstata/química , Prostateína , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Espécies Reativas de Nitrogênio/metabolismo , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Secretoglobinas , Sêmen/química , UteroglobinaRESUMO
The human androgen receptor is a member of the superfamily of steroid hormone receptors and contains three functional domains: an amino-terminal region involved in the expression of androgen regulated genes, a central cystein-rich DNA binding region and a carboxy-terminal hormone binding region. Proper functioning of this protein is a prerequisite for normal male sexual differentiation and development. Androgen action is currently studied in vitro, using fibroblasts culture from genital skin and complementary DNA of the androgen receptor gene has been recently cloned and sequenced. During recent years a substantial progress has been made elucidating the structure-function relationship of the androgen receptor and the characterization of the molecular defects associated with androgen insensitivity syndromes. There appears to be a broad correlation between the degree of receptor dysfunction caused by the mutation and the patient phenotype