Expression of protein kinase C isoforms in various steroidogenic cell types.

Different endocrine, steroidogenic cell types were examined for their content in protein kinase C (PKC) subtypes I, II and III. The expression of the PKC isoforms was assayed following high-performance liquid chromatography separation and characterization using a set of antipeptide antibodies specific for each enzyme isotype. Bovine and rat adrenocortical cells, as well as porcine Sertoli cells expressed only the type III PKC. By contrast, Leydig cell expressed both the isotypes I, II and II at similar levels. Taking into account the biological effect observed in these various cell types upon PKC activation, it may be suggested that the type III iso-PKC is involved in the steroidogenic activation pathways, whereas the expression of the types I, II, and III, only in Leydig cells, may contribute to a different array of cross-talk regulation pathways in these cells.