title: [Effect of electroacupuncture intervention on expression of testicular P 450 scc/17 β-HSD3 in rats with partial androgen deficiency].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on expression of cytochrome P 450 side chain cleavage (P 450 scc) and 17 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (17 β-HSD3) in the testis in partial androgen deficiency of aging male (PADAM) rats so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improving PADAM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male SD rats were randomly and equally divided into control, model, and EA groups. The PADAM model was established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (20 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)), once daily for 5 days. EA (20-30 Hz, 1-3 mA) was applied to bilateral "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4) for 15 min, once daily for 8 weeks. Serum total testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of P 450 scc/17 β-HSD3 proteins and mRNA in the testis tissue were assayed by immunohistochemistry, Western bolt (WB) and RT-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, both serum TT, FT levels and expression levels of P450 scc/17 β-HSD3 proteins and mRNA in the testis tissue in the model group were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01). After EA intervention, compared with the model group, the cyclophosphamide-induced decrease of serum TT, FT levels and the expression levels of P 450 scc/17 β-HSD3 proteins and mRNA in the testis was reversed in the EA group (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA intervention is effective in up-regulating serum TT and FT, testicular P 450 scc and 17 β-HSD3 proteins and mRNA levels in PADAM rats, which may be one of its mechanisms underlying improvement of PADAM.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Xiao-guang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xue-zhi
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000728:Androgens / Q000172:deficiency*; D000818:Animals; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C476565:17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3