Direct effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and megestrol acetate (MGA) on rat testicular steroidogenesis.

The effects of MPA and MGA on rat testicular steroidogenesis were examined by studying: 1) serum testosterone in hCG primed animals treated with MPA or MGA, 2) testosterone synthesis in rat Leydig cells cultured with MPA or MGA, 3) MPA and MGA binding to rat testis microsomal cytochrome P-450 and 4) MPA and MGA inhibition of enzymes of rat testicular steroidogenesis. In immature rats receiving 1.0 IU of hCG per day 20 mg/kg of MPA or MGA reduced serum testosterone by 57 and 56%, respectively. In mature male rats receiving 50.0 IU of hCG per day 20 mg/kg of MPA or MGA reduced serum testosterone by 40 and 29%, respectively. In rat interstitial cells cultured with 10 ng of rat LH, 1 microM MPA or MGA inhibited testosterone production by 32 and 23%, respectively. Addition of MPA or MGA to microsomal preparations resulted in a type I cytochrome P-450 difference spectrum. MPA and MGA inhibited rat testicular 17 alpha-hydroxylase, 17,20-lyase, and the 3 beta- and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. These findings suggest that MPA and MGA inhibit rat testicular steroidogenesis in vivo and in vitro.