Figure 5.

The effects of nos. 4, 6, 8, and 10 DHEA derivatives on the ER, PR, or GR transcriptional activity. PC-3 cells were transfected with 1.5 μg of PR and 4.5 μg of MMTV-CAT or 1.5 μg of GR and 4.5 μg MMTV-CAT. MCF-7 cells were transfected with ERE-CAT. After a 24-h transfection, cells were incubated for an additional 24 h without hormone (ETOH) or with 1 nM 17β-estradiol (E2; A), 1 nM progesterone (B), or 1 nM dexamethasone (C) as positive controls as compared with 1, 0.1, or 0.01 μM of different DHEA metabolites. CAT activity was determined, and the ethanol treatment was set as 1-fold. Values are the means ± SD of at least three determinations.