TY - JOUR
T1 - The in vivo and in vitro stimulatory effects of cordycepin on mouse Leydig cell steroidogenesis
AU - Leu, Sew Fen
AU - Poon, Song Ling
AU - Pao, Hsiang Yin
AU - Huang, Bu Miin
N1 - Funding Information:
Sew-Fen Leu and Song Ling Poon contributed equally to this study which was supported by a grant from the National Science Council (NSC 98-2320-B-006-016) of Taiwan, Republic of China (to BMH).
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Cordycepin, a pure compound of Cordyceps sinensis (CS), is known as an adenosine analog. We have found that CS stimulated Leydig cell steroidogenesis. Here we investigated the in vivo and in vitro effects of cordycepin in primary mouse Leydig cell steroidogenesis. The results indicate that cordycepin increased the plasma testosterone concentration. Cordycepin also stimulated in vitro mouse Leydig cell testosterone production in dose-and time-dependent manners. We further observed that cordycepin regulated the mRNA expression of the A1, A2a, A2b, and A3 adenosine receptors in the mouse Leydig cells, and that antagonists of A1, A2a, and A3 suppressed testosterone production 20-50% testosterone production. Furthermore, Rp-cAMPS (cAMP antagonist) and Protein Kinase A (PKA) inhibitors (H89 and PKI) significantly decreased cordycepin-induced testosterone production, indicating that the PKA-cAMP signal pathway was activated by cordycepin through adenosine receptors. Moreover, cordycepin induced StAR protein expression, and H89 suppressed cordycepin-induced steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein expression. Conclusively, cordycepin associated with adenosine receptors to activate cAMP-PKA-StAR pathway and steroidogenesis in the mouse Leydig cells.
AB - Cordycepin, a pure compound of Cordyceps sinensis (CS), is known as an adenosine analog. We have found that CS stimulated Leydig cell steroidogenesis. Here we investigated the in vivo and in vitro effects of cordycepin in primary mouse Leydig cell steroidogenesis. The results indicate that cordycepin increased the plasma testosterone concentration. Cordycepin also stimulated in vitro mouse Leydig cell testosterone production in dose-and time-dependent manners. We further observed that cordycepin regulated the mRNA expression of the A1, A2a, A2b, and A3 adenosine receptors in the mouse Leydig cells, and that antagonists of A1, A2a, and A3 suppressed testosterone production 20-50% testosterone production. Furthermore, Rp-cAMPS (cAMP antagonist) and Protein Kinase A (PKA) inhibitors (H89 and PKI) significantly decreased cordycepin-induced testosterone production, indicating that the PKA-cAMP signal pathway was activated by cordycepin through adenosine receptors. Moreover, cordycepin induced StAR protein expression, and H89 suppressed cordycepin-induced steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein expression. Conclusively, cordycepin associated with adenosine receptors to activate cAMP-PKA-StAR pathway and steroidogenesis in the mouse Leydig cells.
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U2 - 10.1271/bbb.100853
DO - 10.1271/bbb.100853
M3 - Article
C2 - 21512251
AN - SCOPUS:79955819635
SN - 0916-8451
VL - 75
SP - 723
EP - 731
JO - Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry
JF - Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry
IS - 4
ER -