title: Regulatory mechanism of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium on mouse Leydig cell steroidogenesis.
abstract: We demonstrate the mechanism by which Cordyceps sinensis (CS) mycelium regulates Leydig cell steroidogenesis. Mouse Leydig cells were treated with forskolin, H89, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, staurosporine, or steroidogenic enzyme precursors with or without 3 mg/ml CS; then testosterone production was determined. H89, but not phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or staurosporine, decreased CS-treated Leydig cell steroidogenesis. CS inhibited Leydig cell steroidogenesis by suppressing the activity of P450scc enzyme, but not 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 17alpha-hydroxylase, 20alpha-hydroxylase, or 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzymes. Thus, CS activated the cAMP-protein kinase A signal pathway, but not protein kinase C, and attenuated P45scc enzyme activity to reduce human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated steroidogenesis in purified mouse Leydig cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, #1 Ta-Hsueh Road, 701, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Chao
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Shaw-Jeng
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yuan-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Bu-Miin
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000502:physiology*; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols / Q000494:pharmacology; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D025282:Mycelium / Q000502:physiology; D011372:Progestins / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols; D007546:Isoquinolines; D011372:Progestins; D013449:Sulfonamides; C003585:22-hydroxycholesterol; D005576:Colforsin; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D019311:Staurosporine; C063509:N-(2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate