Mechanism of Action of an Environmentally Relevant Organochlorine Mixture in Repressing Steroid Hormone Biosynthesis in Leydig Cells.

ABSTRACT: Within Leydig cells, steroidogenesis is induced by the pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH). The binding of LH to its receptor increases cAMP production, which then activates the expression of genes involved in testosterone biosynthesis. One of these genes codes for the steroidogenic acute regulatory (STAR) protein. STAR is part of a complex that shuttles cholesterol, the precursor of all steroid hormones, through the mitochondrial membrane where steroidogenesis is initiated. Organochlorine chemicals (OCs) are environmental persistent organic pollutants that are found at high concentrations in Arctic areas. OCs are known to affect male reproductive health by decreasing semen quality in different species, including humans. We previously showed that an environmentally relevant mixture of OCs f

SUBMITTER: Enangue Njembele AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8999779 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature