Testosterone Protects Mice Against Zika Virus Infection And Suppresses The Inflammatory Response In Brain

Background: Testosterone is an important hormone affecting human growth and development. Recent studies have shown that testosterone is related to immune regulation. Infection with Zika virus (ZIKV) can cause testicular damage and decrease testosterone secretion. However, whether testosterone plays a function in the pathogenesis of ZIKV is still unclear. The main objective of this study was to understand the role of testosterone in central nervous system injury and inflammation induced by ZIKV. Methods: In this work, a mouse model was used to evaluate the role of testosterone in ZIKV infection. Histopathological analysis, flow cytometry, and real-time PCR were performed to investigate the mechanism by which testosterone improved survival in mice after ZIKV infection.Results: ZIKV infection caused testicular damage and decreased testosterone secretion in mice, and testosterone supplementation after ZIKV infection reduced mortality and pathological symptoms in mice. Histopathological analysis showed that testosterone treatment after ZIKV infection could reduce inflammatory cell infiltration in the brain and alleviate brain injury. Flow cytometry and quantitative real-time PCR results confirmed that testosterone treatment could reduce the CD8+ T cell infiltration and the expression of interferon gamma and inflammatory cytokines induced by ZIKV. Conclusion: Testosterone plays an important protective role in mice during ZIKV infection and can be used as a potential therapeutic treatment for ZIKV infection.

Quercetin ameliorates testosterone secretion disorder by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress through the miR-1306-5p/HSD17B7 axis in diabetic rats

Testicular damage and testosterone secretion disorder are associated with diabetes mellitus. Quercetin, a common flavonoid, has antioxidant, anti-cancer, and blood sugar lowering effects. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of quercetin on the reproductive system of male rats with diabetes in vivo and in vitro and elucidate its mechanism. Streptozotocin (STZ) induction was used to establish a diabetes model in forty male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, which were subsequently administered with 20 or 50 mg/kg of quercetin. Leydig cells of rat testes were treated by high glucose (HG) followed by 5 or 10 μM quercetin. Two doses of quercetin increased rat body weight and testicular weight, decreased blood glucose,and inhibited oxidative stress. RT-qPCR and Western blotting revealed that quercetin alleviated STZ-induced testicular damage and promoted testosterone synthesis. Both doses of quercetin reduced ROS and MDA levels, and increased SOD level in HG-treated cells. Both, in vivo and in vitro results confirmed that a high dose of quercetin was more effective. MiR-1306-5p was upregulated in testicular tissue of diabetic rats and HG-treated cells. 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD17B7) was a target of miR-1306-5p and HSD17B7 was downregulated in STZ-induced rat tissues and HG-treated cells. HSD17B7 overexpression reversed the increase of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and glucose-regulated protein 78 (Grp78) protein levels as well as eIF2α phosphorylation level and promotion of cell apoptosis caused by miR-1306-5p overexpression. Moreover, overexpression of HSD17B7 activated the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) axis in HG-treated cells. In conclusion, quercetin inhibits ER stress and improves testosterone secretion disorder through the miR-1306-5p/HSD17B7 axis in diabetic rats.

Assessment of tebuconazole exposure on bovine testicular cells and epididymal spermatozoa

This study is the first to investigate the effects of tebuconazole (TEB) on the physiological functions of bovine testicular cells and epididymal spermatozoa. Motility and plasma membrane integrity of spermatozoa exposed to TEB (0.001–100 µM) were evaluated at different incubation times (0–6 h), while TEB-induced spermiotoxicity was assessed after 24 h in cell cultures. Testicular cells, obtained from the parenchyma of bovine testes, were seeded at 1.0 × 104 and 1.5 × 106 cells/well in 96- and 12-well culture plates and incubated for 48 h in culture media containing TEB (0.001–100 µM) to evaluate cytotoxicity and hormone release, respectively. TEB did not affect the motility and plasma membrane integrity. However, significant spermiotoxicity occurred at higher TEB (1–100 µM) concentrations (P < 0.05) compared to control and lower doses. Although no dose caused cytotoxicity in testicular cells (P > 0.05), 1 and 100 µM TEB caused a significant increase in testosterone secretion (P < 0.05). As a result, high doses of TEB (1–100 µM) had slightly suppressive effects on spermatozoa; however, these doses had stimulatory effects on testosterone secretion by testicular cells. It appears that the disruption of hormonal homeostasis of testicular cells after TEB exposure may result in metabolic and especially reproductive adverse effects in bulls.

Three-Dimensional Scaffold, Light Emitting Diode (LED) And Melatonin Effects on Cell Proliferation and Testosterone Secretion in TM3 Leydig Cells

Different effects of fibrin scaffold, green LED and melatonin on cell proliferation and differentiation have received extensive attentions. Testosterone, the most important sex hormone is secreted by Leydig cells to regulate spermatogenesis and many other phenomena in the body organs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the proliferation of Leydig cells and their testosterone secretion under the influence of three-dimensional scaffold culture, green light irradiation and melatonin. The experimental groups, were TM3 cells incorporated in 3D scaffold culture, exposed to green light and also exposed to melatonin individually, in pairs and three factors together. Cell proliferation and testosterone secretion were measured after 72 hr. Cell cycle genes including PCNA, CYCLIND1, CDC2 and CDKN1B and, testosterone related genes; GATA4 and RORα were also examined. In general, three-dimensional scaffold increased Leydig cells proliferation, testosterone secretion and the expression of the related genes. On the other hand, melatonin decreased cell proliferation and testosterone synthesis. Green light did not significantly change the results but slightly decreased cell proliferation and testosterone synthesis. Combination of green light with melatonin significantly reduced the outcome while, light with scaffold increased the results. Application of light + scaffold + melatonin covered the decreasing effect of melatonin.

Psychosocial stress increases testosterone in patients with borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and healthy participants

Background The gonadal hormone testosterone not only regulates sexual behavior but is also involved in social behavior and cognition in both sexes. Changes in testosterone secretion in response to stress have been reported. In addition, stress associated mental disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are characterized by alterations in basal testosterone metabolism. However, testosterone changes to stress have not been investigated in mental disorders such as BPD and PTSD so far. Methods In the study described, we investigated testosterone reactivity to an acute psychosocial stressor, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Our sample consisted of young adult women with BPD (n = 28), PTSD (n = 22) or both disorders (n = 22), and healthy control (n = 51). Based on previous studies on basal testosterone secretion in these disorders, we expected the stress-associated testosterone reactivity to be higher in the BPD group and lower in the PTSD group, when compared to the healthy control group. Results The study could demonstrate an increase in testosterone after acute stress exposure across all groups and independent of BPD or PTSD status. Different possible explanations for the absence of a group effect are discussed. Conclusions From the results of this study, we conclude that stress-related changes in testosterone release are not affected by BPD or PTSD status in a female patient population. This study expands the knowledge about changes in gonadal hormones and stress reactivity in these disorders.

Short term administration of cyproterone acetate for contraception: Effects on testosterone secretion and semen characteristics in rams (Ovis aries) and bucks (Capra hircus)

Aim of study: To examine the influence of administering cyproterone acetate (CPA), at the beginning of the mating season, on the testosterone concentration and morphometric and functional characteristics of ram and buck semen.Area of study: Madrid, SpainMaterial and methods: Five rams and five bucks were intramuscularly administered 200 mg of CPA in 2 mL of olive oil twice per week - from July 1st to 31st in the rams, and from August 1st to 31st in the bucks. Five control animals of each species were administered 2 mL of olive oil. Blood samples and ejaculates analysed from the start of treatment until eight weeks after the last day of treatment.Main results: GLM-ANOVA showed the interaction species × CPA treatment to have effect (p<0.05) on sperm motility, progressive motility and acrosome integrity; and greater effect (p<0.01) on curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), viability, and morphological abnormalities. In both the rams and bucks, plasma testosterone levels fell from the first week from the start of CPA administration until three weeks after the end of treatment. In rams, the total sperm count, sperm motility, progressive motility, viability, morphological abnormalities, VCL and VSL were all negatively affected by the treatment (p<0.001); acrosome integrity was also affected (p<0.05). In bucks, sperm motility, progressive motility, VCL, VSL and morphological abnormalities were negatively affected (p<0.05).Research highlights: Treatment with CPA affected testosterone secretion, semen characteristics and sperm morphometry in both the rams and bucks, and thus it might be used as short term contraceptive protocol in small ruminants.

Anti-GnRH vaccination of stallions shedding equine arteritis virus in their semen: a field study

Stallions are natural reservoirs of equine arteritis virus (EAV) in their semen, representing a potential source of outbreaks. The carrier-state is testosterone-dependent, and clears spontaneously in 4 to 40% stallions. Reduction of testosterone secretion may be obtained with the anti-GnRH vaccine Equity. In this report, 16 naturally infected stallions excreting EAV in their semen were vaccinated twice with the vaccine EquityTM and monitored irregularly under field conditions for EAV viral load in their semen and plasmatic testosterone concentration. The results are indicated in months (M) after the first vaccine injection. Testosterone concentrations decreased from 1.7 to 0.2 ng/mL (P<0.002) after 3M. The EAV viral load decreased from 3.2×109 to 1.1×106 RNA copy/mL of semen (P<0.001) after 5M. One stallion died at 7M for other reason. At M3-10, 12/15 stallions ceased to shed the virus in their semen. At M5-10, 9/15 stallions had plasmatic testosterone concentrations of ≥ 0.5 ng/mL but the 6 others showed a persistently low testosterone concentration (≤0.3 ng/mL). Of the 14 stallions that were expected to recover their reproductive activity at the time of the next breeding season (<M12), 8 were EAV negative and produced foals, and 6 were not usable (4 for reproductive deficiency and 2 for EAV positivity). All the stallions were EAV negative at M22, with one stallion being vaccinated a third time at M15. These results suggest that the anti-GnRH vaccination could help to clear EAV shedding in stallions, without a significant effect on reproductive capacity for most of them, but some present a long lasting reduced testosterone secretion.

Interval between Removal of a 4.7 mg Deslorelin Implant after a 3-, 6-, and 9-Month Treatment and Restoration of Testicular Function in Tomcats

Deslorelin implants have been used to produce a reversible sterilization in several species. In cats, the prolonged duration (12–15 months in tomcats and 18–22 months in queen) is often too much for cat breeders who request early implant removal. The interval between implant removal and resumption of reproductive function in cats has never been investigated. Eighteen tomcats received a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant placed in the periumbilical area and surgically removed during all seasons of the year after 3, 6, or 9 months (n = 6, 6, and 6 cats, respectively). Following implant removal, all cats received a clinical exam every two weeks, including testicular ultrasonographic measurement, observation of penile spikes, and blood collection for serum testosterone assay. Restoration of serum testosterone secretion occurred after 23 ± 6, 23 ± 6, and 22 ± 7 days in the 3-, 6-, and 9-month groups, respectively. Restoration of testicular function was confirmed by histology in 13/15 cats undergoing orchiectomy at the end of the study while the owners of the remaining two cats opted to maintain their animals intact. Removal of a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant after 3, 6, or 9 months is followed by resumption of serum testosterone secretion after about 3 weeks independent of age or season.