Nongenomic effect of androgens on Ca(2+) concentration in human lymphocytes.

Testosterone and its high-molecular-weight form (testosterone covalently immobilized on bovine serum albumin) induced a rise of intracellular calcium concentration. The effectiveness of dihydrotestosterone was much lower compared to that of testosterone. Gestagens drospirenone and, to a lesser extent, 17alpha-acetoxy-3beta-butanoyloxy-6-methyl-pregna-4,6-dien-20-one prevented the testosterone-induced Ca(2+) entry into cells. Antagonist of intracellular androgen receptors cyproterone acetate had no effect on testosterone-induced variations in calcium concentration. Human lymphocytes can be used as an experimental test system for screening and evaluation of the molecular mechanisms of nongenomic membranotropic effect of androgens and new compounds with antiandrogen activity.