title: In vivo and in vitro stimulatory effects of Cordyceps sinensis on testosterone production in mouse Leydig cells.
abstract: The in vivo and in vitro effects of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) and its extracted fractions on the secretion of testosterone in mice were studied. CS, F2 (water soluble protein), and F3 (poorly water soluble polysaccharide and protein) significantly stimulated in vitro testosterone production in purified mouse Leydig cells. However, F1 (water soluble polysaccharide) had no effect (p>0.05). F2 and F3 stimulated in vitro testosterone production in dose- and time-dependent relationships with maximal responses at 3 mg/ml for 3 h (p<0.05). An in vivo study illustrated that testosterone levels in plasma were significantly increased by CS, F2, and F3, respectively (p<0.05). Because CS, F2, and F3 stimulated both in vitro and in vivo testosterone secretions in mice, it is possible that CS might contribute to an alternative medicine for the treatment of some reproductive problems caused by insufficient testosterone levels in human males.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, 701 Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih Chao
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Yuan Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shaw Jeng
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chia Chin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: Bu Miin
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D013739:Testosterone