Down-regulation of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein in rat Leydig cells: implications for regulation of testosterone production during aging.
Aging in rats is associated with reduced synthesis of steroid hormones. In the present study, response to gonadotropin and Bt2cAMP in vitro was significantly reduced in Leydig cells isolated from old versus young rats. StAR protein levels were similarly decreased in interstitial cells prepared from the testes of old rats.
Leers-Sucheta
S
S
Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, CA 94304, USA. ssucheta@leland.stanford.edu
Stocco
D M
DM
Azhar
S
S
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015536:Down-Regulation; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
D010750:Phosphoproteins; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D013739:Testosterone