Molecular Pharmacology, Vol 2, 125-133, Copyright © 1966 by the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

NAD Biosynthesis as an Early Part of Androgen Action

¹ Johnson Research Foundation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

One 150-µg dose of testosterone stimulates a rise in prostatic NADH of castrate rats within 1 hr. This is followed by a decrease in NADH and an increase in NAD between 1 and 3 hr. Between 1 and 5 hr the sum of NAD + NADH is constant and is more than twice that seen in either the intact control or the castrate control. Between 5 and 10 hr after the injection the NAD + NADH decreases toward the intact control level. The NADPH concentration is about 4 times the castrate or intact control value 2-4 hr after injection. The ATP concentration decreases to a minimum value 1-2 hr after testosterone injection, then increases quickly between 2 and 3 hr, and more slowly between 3 and 9 hr. Neither actinomycin D nor puromycin inhibits the NAD response assayed 8 hr after testosterone injection. The possibility is discussed that androgen activates processes independent of its activation of RNA and protein synthesis, and that part of such activation is a redirection of energy metabolism toward the more efficient production of ATP.

Note:
ACKNOWLEDGMENT The author is grateful to Drs. B. Chance, H. Lardy, D. Epel, and J. Williamson for reading the manuscript and making helpful suggestions, and to C. Love and J. Elkin for technical assistance. This investigation was supported by Grant Number GM 5T1277-04 from the United States Public Health Service.