title: Inhibition of testosterone secretion by S-petasin in rat testicular interstitial cells.
abstract: S-petasin, a kind of sesquiterpene ester, is the anti-inflammatory ann analgesic component of the butterbur (Petasites hybridus). The clinical benefit of S-petasin is the spasmolytic activity, but its side effects on the reproductive endocrinology are not clear yet. The present study was to explore the effects of S-petasin on the secretion of testosterone in vivo and in vitro. We found that single intravenous injection of S-petasin (1 microg/kg) decreased basal plasma testosterone concentration in adult male rats. The enzymatically dispersed rat testicular interstitial cells were incubated with S-petasin (0-4.3 x 10(-5)M) in the presence or absence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 0.05 IU/ml), forskolin (adenylyl cyclase activator, 10(-5) M), and androstenedione (testosterone biosynthesis precursor, 10(-9) M) at 34 degrees C for 1 h. The concentrations of testosterone in the incubation medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. S-petasin at 4.3 x 10(-7) M was effective to reduce the basal and hCG-stimulated release of testosterone in rat testicular interstitial cells. The stimulatory effects of testosterone secretion induced by forskolin and androstenedione were significantly reduced by S-petasin at 4.3 x 10(-5) M and 4.3 x 10(-6) M, respectively. These results suggest that S-petasin inhibits the production of testosterone in rat testicular interstitial cells in part through diminishing the activities of adenylyl cyclase and 17-ketosteroid reductase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Life Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000067956:Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000067956:Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D005576:Colforsin; D013739:Testosterone; C418727:petasin; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases