Androgens increase intracellular calcium concentration and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol formation via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein.

Bone is a target tissue of androgens, but the mechanisms by which they act on bone are still unclear. This study examines the early (5-60 s) effects of 1 pM to 1 microM testosterone on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and diacyglycerol (DAG) formation in confluent male rat osteoblasts. 10 pM to 10 nM testosterone increased [Ca2+]i within 5 s via Ca2+ influx as shown by the effects of EGTA and the Ca2+ channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil and via Ca2+ mobilization from the endoplasmic reticulum as shown by the effects of thapsigargin and neomycin. 10 pM to 10 nM testosterone increased InsP3 and DAG formation within 10 s. Testosterone immobilized on bovine serum albumin (testosterone (O-carboxymethyl)oxime/bovine serum albumin) and its derivative, (O-carboxymethyl)oxime, rapidly increased [Ca2+]i and InsP3 and DAG formation and were full agonists, although they were less potent than the free steroid. Cyproterone acetate, a nuclear antagonist, did not block the increase in [Ca2+]i and InsP3 and DAG formation induced by testosterone. Finally, neomycin and pertussis toxin totally abolished the effects of testosterone on InsP3 and DAG. These results suggest that male rat osteoblasts bear nongenomic unconventional cell-surface receptors for testosterone that belong to the class of the membrane receptors coupled to a phospholipase C via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein.