Barbiturates inhibit progesterone synthesis in cultured Leydig tumor cells and human granulosa cells

P. M. Gocze Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Pecs, Hungary; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Department of Veterans, Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

I. Szabo Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Pecs, Hungary

Z. Porpaczy Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Department of Veterans, Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

D. A. Freeman Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Department of Veterans, Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USAView further author information

Abstract

Screening drugs used in obstetrical practice for effects on steroid hormone synthesis revealed that phenobarbital inhibited progesterone synthesis in MA-10 Leydig tumor cells. The inhibition was apparently a drug class effect since it could be reproduced by other barbiturates. Barbiturate blockade was reversible and could be bypassed in the MA-10 cells by using 22-hydroxycholesterol. Human granulosa cell progesterone synthesis was also inhibited in a dose dependent fashion by phenobarbital, secobarbital and barbituric acid. Significant inhibition occurred in dose ranges that would be therapeutic for treating epilepsy. From these data we conclude that barbiturates block steroidogenesis by inhibiting cholesterol transport to the cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme.

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D. A. Freeman

Joyce Laing works in the Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, Playfield House, Cupar, Fife, and is a Consultant Art Therapist to Psychiatric Hospitals and Prisons and Chairwoman of the Scottish Society of Art and Psychology.

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Barbiturates inhibit progesterone synthesis in cultured Leydig tumor cells and human granulosa cells

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D. A. Freeman

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Barbiturates inhibit progesterone synthesis in cultured Leydig tumor cells and human granulosa cells

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D. A. Freeman

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