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27 October 2010 Metformin Decreases GnRH- and Activin-Induced Gonadotropin Secretion in Rat Pituitary Cells: Potential Involvement of Adenosine 5′ Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (PRKA)
Lucie Tosca, Pascal Froment, Christelle Rame, J.R. McNeilly, A.S. McNeilly, Virginie Maillard, Joelle Dupont
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Metformin is an insulin sensitizer molecule used for the treatment of infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance. It modulates the reproductive axis, affecting the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). However, metformin's mechanism of action in pituitary gonadotropin-secreting cells remains unclear. Adenosine 5′ monophosphate-activated protein kinase (PRKA) is involved in metformin action in various cell types. Here, we investigated the effects of metformin on gonadotropin secretion in response to activin and GnRH in primary rat pituitary cells (PRP), and studied PRKA in rat pituitary. In PRP, metformin (10 mM) reduced LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion induced by GnRH (10−8 M, 3 h), FSH secretion, and mRNA FSHbeta subunit expression induced by activin (10−8 M, 12 or 24 h). The different subunits of PRKA are expressed in pituitary. In particular, PRKAA1 is detected mainly in gonadotrophs and thyrotrophs, is less abundant in lactotrophs and somatotrophs, and is undetectable in corticotrophs. In PRP, metformin increased phosphorylation of both PRKA and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Metformin decreased activin-induced SMAD2 phosphorylation and GnRH-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 3/1 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation. The PRKA inhibitor compound C abolished the effects of metformin on gonadotropin release induced by GnRH and on FSH secretion and Fshb mRNA induced by activin. The adenovirus-mediated production of dominant negative PRKA abolished the effects of metformin on the FSHbeta subunit mRNA and SMAD2 phosphorylation induced by activin and on the MAPK3/1 phosphorylation induced by GnRH. Thus, in rat pituitary cells, metformin decreases gonadotropin secretion and MAPK3/1 phosphorylation induced by GnRH and FSH release, FSHbeta subunit expression, and SMAD2 phosphorylation induced by activin through PRKA activation.

Lucie Tosca, Pascal Froment, Christelle Rame, J.R. McNeilly, A.S. McNeilly, Virginie Maillard, and Joelle Dupont "Metformin Decreases GnRH- and Activin-Induced Gonadotropin Secretion in Rat Pituitary Cells: Potential Involvement of Adenosine 5′ Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (PRKA)," Biology of Reproduction 84(2), 351-362, (27 October 2010). https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.110.087023
Received: 1 July 2010; Accepted: 1 October 2010; Published: 27 October 2010
KEYWORDS
anterior pituitary
cell growth
gonadotropin secretion
gonadotropin-releasing hormone
mechanisms of hormone action
neuroendocrinology
signal transduction
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