title: Diet-induced hypercholesterolemia impaired testicular steroidogenesis in mice through the renin-angiotensin system.
abstract: Hypercholesterolemia and low testosterone concentrations in men are associated with a high risk factor for atherosclerosis. It is known that cholesterol serves as the major precursor for the synthesis of the sex hormones. The bioactive peptides of the renin-angiotensin-system localized in the gonads play a key role in the relation between cholesterol and testosterone by modulating steroidogenesis and inhibiting testosterone production. In the present work, we evaluated the effects of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia on circulating testosterone levels and its relationship with the testicular RAS-regulating specific aminopeptidase activities in male mouse. A significant decrease in serum circulating levels of testosterone was observed after induced hypercholesterolemia. The changes found in aminopeptidase activities suggest a role of Ang III and Ang IV in the regulation of steroidogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Experimental and Clinical Physiopathology Research Group BIO296, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain. mramirez@ujaen.es
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martínez-Martos
authors.forename: Marce
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arrazola
authors.forename: María D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mayas
authors.forename: María P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carrera-González
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Expósito
mesh_terms: D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D002784:Cholesterol; D000626:Aminopeptidases