[Ginkgo biloba extract enhances testosterone synthesis of Leydig cells in type 2 diabetic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGB) on the testosterone synthesis in the Leydig cells of type 2 diabetic rats.


METHODS
Thirty male SD rats were equally randomised into a normal control, a type 2 diabetic and an EGB group. Morphological changes of Leydig cells were observed by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), concentrations of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the mRNA levels in the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage (P450scc), cytochrome P450 17a-hydroxylase (P450c17), 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (17beta-HSD3) and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD1) from the Leydig cells were examined by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
Compared with the normal control, there was a significant decrease in the number and volume of Leydig cells, the levels of serum LH and T and the expression of mRNA in StAR, P450scc, 17beta-HSD3 and 3beta-HSD1 in the type 2 diabetes group. And the expression of the P450c17 gene showed a tendency of descending, but with no significance. Compared with the type 2 diabetes group, 12 weeks of EGB treatment caused very slight pathological changes in the Leydig cells, significantly increased the concentrations of blood LH and T, markedly elevated the levels of mRNA in StAR and P450scc and induced an ascending tendency of the expressions of P450c17, 17beta-HSD3 and 3beta-HSD1.


CONCLUSIONS
EGB enhances testosterone synthesis and secretion of Leydig cells by reducing the impairment of the testis in type 2 diabetic rats.
Wu
Xiao-Ye
XY
Department of Pathology, 1st Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China. xiaoyewu2005@yahoo.com.cn
Wang
Wen-Yan
WY
Wang
Rong-Rong
RR
Xie
Lin
L
Fang
Zhou-Xi
ZX
Chen
Guo-Rong
GR
D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000235:genetics; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000737:chemistry*; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
D010750:Phosphoproteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C476565:17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme