title: Effect of brominated flame retardant BDE-47 on androgen production of adult rat Leydig cells.
abstract: As one of the most abundant polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) detected in adipose tissue and breast milk of humans, 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) is considered as a potential endocrine disruptor. The objective of this study is to explore whether environment-related level of BDE-47 could affect the androgen production in rat Leydig cells. Rat adult Leydig cells (ALCs) were treated with 10(-8) to 10(-4)M BDE-47 in vitro, the production of testosterone (T) and steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein level were determined. BDE-47 significantly increased basal T production and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) level of ALCs after treatment with 10(-4)M BED-47. Overall, LH (0.1ng/ml) stimulated T production in ALCs by 6 folds, however it did not increase T production in BDE-47-treated ALCs when compared to untreated ALC. Both 8-Br-cAMP (for cAMP signaling) and 22R-hydroxycholesterol (22-diol, for P450 cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme P450scc activity) significantly increased T production in ALCs treated with BDE-47 from 10(-7) to 10(-5)M. The results of this study indicate that environment-related level of BDE-47 in vitro increased T production in a dose-dependent manner. The stimulated effects of BDE-47 on StAR and P450scc might play key roles in BDE-47-mediated stimulation of T production.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chantal M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sottas
authors.forename: Ren-Shan
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Yunhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C511295:2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether; D013739:Testosterone