Pregnenolone 16-Alpha Carbonitrile, an Agonist of Rodent Pregnane X Receptor, Regulates Testosterone Biosynthesis in Rodent Leydig Cells.

ABSTRACT: Leydig cells (LCs) in the testes produce the male sex hormone testosterone (T). Several xenobiotics, including clinical drugs, supplements, and environmental chemicals, are known to disrupt T homeostasis. Notably, some of these xenobiotics are known to activate the pregnane X receptor (PXR), a ligand-dependent nuclear receptor. However, it is currently unknown whether PXR is expressed in LCs and whether PXR activation alters T synthesis in rodent LCs. Therefore, in this study, we sought to determine whether PXR is expressed in rodent LCs and whether pregnenolone 16-alpha carbonitrile (PCN), the prototype agonist of rodent PXR, regulates T biosynthesis in rodent LCs. Hormonal as well as protein and gene expression analyses were conducted in rat primary LCs and MA-10 mouse Leydig cells. Resu

SUBMITTER: Salamat JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11417858 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature