Danazol stimulates the release of follicle-stimulating hormone and inhibits the release of prolactin in vitro studies on rat pituitary cell cultures

Summary The actions of danazol on the release of gonadotropins and prolactin (PRL) were investigated by using a culture of rat anterior pituitary gland cells. The addition of danazol in the range between 10−9M and 10−5M elevated the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in a dose-dependent manner. Danazol at 10−5M caused a 70% increase in FSH levels over the control. The intracellular contents of FSH was also increased by danazol, suggesting its stimulatory effect on both the synthesis and release of FSH. Danazol had no effect on the release of luteinizing hormone (LH). Danazol diminished the sensitivity of gonadotrophs to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in that the LHRH-induced release of both FSH and LH was suppressed. The amount of PRL released into medium was decreased by danazol in a dose-dependent way. Similar content being viewed by others References Barbieri RL, Ryan KJ (1981) Danazol: endocrine pharmacology and therapeutic applications. Am J Obstet Gynecol 141:453–463 Bohnet HG, Hanker JP, Schweppe KW, Schneider HPG (1981) Changes of prolactin secretion following long-term danazol application. Fertil Steril 36:725–728 Demoulin A, Lambotte R, Franchimont P (1984) Influence of danazol on gonadotropin secretion and synthesis by rat pituitary cells in cultures. Acta Euro Fertil 15:99–109 Dmowski WP, Cohen MR (1975) Treatment of endometriosis with an antigonadotropin danazol. Obstet Gynecol 46:147–154 Dmowski WP (1979) Endocrine properties and clinical application of danazol. Fertil Steril 31:237–251 Dmowski WP, Headley S, Radwanska E (1983) Effects of danazol on pulsatile gonadotropin patterns and on serum estradiol levels in normally cycling women. Fertil Steril 39:49–55 Floyd WS (1980) Danazol: endocrine and endometrial effects. Int J Fertil 25:75–80 Goldman AS (1968) Further studies of steroidal inhibitors of Δ5,3βhydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and Δ5-Δ4,3-ketosteroid isomerase in pseudomonas testosteroni and in bovine adrenals. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 28:1539–1546 Greenblatt RB, Dmowski WP, Mahesh VB, Scholer HFL (1971) Clinical studies with an antigonadotropin-danazol. Fertil Steril 22:102–112 Hunter WM, Greenwood FC (1962) Preparation of iodine-131 labelled human growth hormone of high specific activity. Nature 194:495–496 Manson AJ, Stonner FW, Neumann HC, Christiansen RG, Clarke RL, Ackerman JH Page DF, Dean JW, Phillips DK, Potts GO, Arnold A, Beyler AL, Clinton RO (1963) Steroidal heterocycles. VII. Androstano [2,3-d] isoxazoles and related compounds. J Med Chem 6:1–9 Menon M, Peegel H, Menon KMJ (1981) In vitro effect of danazol on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-stimulated luteinizing hormone release in rat anterior pituitary cell culture in vitro. Endocrinol 109:191–196 Menon M, Peegel H, Katta V (1986) Inhibition of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors in rat anterior pituitary monolayer cell culture by danazol. Am J Obstet Gynecol 154:367–372 Peters F, Reck G, Zimmermann G, Breckwoldt M (1980) The effect of danazol on the pituitary function, thyroid function and mastodynia. Arch Gynecol 230:3–8 Sakai S (1975) A receptor site for prolactin in lactating mouse mammary tissues. Endocrinol Jpn 22:379–387 Steingold KA, Lu JKH, Judd HL, Meldrum DR (1986) Danazol inhibits steroidogenesis by the human ovary in vivo. Fertil Steril 45:649–654 Author information Authors and Affiliations Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Kugu, K., Kohda, K., Taketani, Y. et al. Danazol stimulates the release of follicle-stimulating hormone and inhibits the release of prolactin in vitro studies on rat pituitary cell cultures. Arch Gynecol Obstet 244, 157–162 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00931293 Received: Accepted: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00931293