Endurance exercise and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation up-regulate CYP17A1 and stimulate testosterone biosynthesis.
A new role for fat supplements, in particular conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), has been delineated in steroidogenesis, although the underlying molecular mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. The aims of the present study were to identify the pathway stimulated by CLA supplementation using a cell culture model and to determine whether this same pathway is also stimulated in vivo by CLA supplementation associated with exercise. In vitro, Leydig tumour rat cells (R2C) supplemented with different concentrations of CLA exhibited increasing testosterone biosynthesis accompanied by increasing levels of CYP17A1 mRNA and protein. In vivo, trained mice showed an increase in free plasma testosterone and an up-regulation of CYP17A1 mRNA and protein. The effect of training on CYP17A1 expression and testosterone biosynthesis was significantly higher in the trained mice supplemented with CLA compared to the placebo. The results of the present study demonstrated that CLA stimulates testosterone biosynthesis via CYP17A1, and endurance training led to the synthesis of testosterone in vivo by inducing the overexpression of CYP17A1 mRNA and protein in the Leydig cells of the testis. This effect was enhanced by CLA supplementation. Therefore, CLA-associated physical activity may be used for its steroidogenic property in different fields, such as alimentary industry, human reproductive medicine, sport science, and anti-muscle wasting.
Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences (BioNeC), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Rosario
R
Barone
Filippo
F
Macaluso
Patrizia
P
Catanese
Antonella
A
Marino Gammazza
Luigi
L
Rizzuto
Paola
P
Marozzi
Giuseppe
G
Lo Giudice
Tomaso
T
Stampone
Francesco
F
Cappello
Giuseppe
G
Morici
Giovanni
G
Zummo
Felicia
F
Farina
Valentina
V
Di Felice
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D044243:Linoleic Acids, Conjugated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*
D044243:Linoleic Acids, Conjugated; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013739:Testosterone; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase