Time-Course Changes of Steroidogenic Gene Expression and Steroidogenesis of Rat Leydig Cells after Acute Immobilization Stress

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Han Lin²  Kai-ming Yuan²  Hong-yu Zhou³  Tiao Bu²  Huina Su²  Shiwen Liu²  Qiqi Zhu²  Yiyan Wang²  Yuanyuan Hu²  Yuanyuan Shan¹  Qing-quan Lian³  Xiao-yun Wu⁴  Ren-shan Ge² 

[1] Research Academy of Reproductive Biomedicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China; E-Mail:;Department of Anesthesiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital; Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang, China; E-Mails:;Department of Pharmacology of School of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, China; E-Mail:;Huzhou Maternity & Child Care Hospital, Huzhou 313000, Zhejiang, China

关键词: acute stress;    Leydig cell;    steroidogenic enzymes;    rat;    corticosterone;    StAR;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms151121028

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Leydig cells secrete testosterone, which is essential for male fertility and reproductive health. Stress increases the secretion of glucocorticoid (corticosterone, CORT; in rats), which decreases circulating testosterone levels in part through a direct action by binding to the glucocorticoid receptors (NR3C1) in Leydig cells. The intratesticular CORT level is dependent on oxidative inactivation of glucocorticoid by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (HSD11B1) in Leydig cells. In the present study, we investigated the time-course changes of steroidogenic gene expression levels after acute immobilization stress in rats. The plasma CORT levels were significantly increased 0.5, 1, 3 and 6 h after immobilization stress, while plasma testosterone levels were significantly reduced 3 and 6 h, after stress and luteinizing hormone (LH) did not change. Immobilization stress caused the down-regulation of Scarb1, Star and Cyp17a1 expression levels in the rat testis starting at the first hour of stress, ahead of the significant decreases of plasma testosterone levels. Other mRNA levels, including Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1 and Hsd17b3, began to decline after 3 h. Hsd11b1 and Nos2 mRNA levels did not change during the course of stress. Administration of glucocorticoid antagonist RU486 significantly restored plasma testosterone levels. In conclusion, Scarb1, Star and Cyp17a1 expression levels are more sensitive to acute stress, and acute immobilization stress causes the decline of the steroidogenic pathway via elevating the levels of glucocorticoid, which binds to NR3C1 in Leydig cells to inhibit steroidogenic gene expression.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.