Effects of testosterone on extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of testosterone on extracellular signal-regulated kinase l/2 ( ERK1/2) phosphorylation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Activations of ERK1/2 stimulated by physiological testosterone were detected by Western blotting in cultured HUVEC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A rapid phosphorylation expression of ERK1/2 was observed by treatment of the HUVECs with 3 x 10(-8) mol/L testosterone, especially at 30 minutes. This phosphorylation was greatly inhibited by incubation with androgen receptor antagonist flutamide for 3 hours previously.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Testosterone at physiological concentrations induces the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK, ERK1/2 and MEK1/2) phosphorylation within a short time, and flutamide could impair the process.</p>