title: Cistanche tubulosa ethanol extract mediates rat sex hormone levels by induction of testicular steroidgenic enzymes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plants of the genus Cistanche Hoffmg. et Link (Orobanchaceae) are usually used as ethno-medicine in Eastern Asia. Pharmacology studies have shown that Cistanche possesses an androgen-like effect; however, the exact mechanism is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study determines the effect of ethanol extract of Cistanche tubulosa (Schenk) R. Wight stem (CTE) on hormone levels and testicular steroidogenic enzymes in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phenylethanoid glycoside content of CTE was detected by UV spectrophotometry. Rats were fed with different doses of CTE (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 g/kg) by intragastric administration for 20 d. Sperm parameters were measured by staining and counting method. The level of progesterone and testosterone in serum was quantified by radioimmunoassay. The expression levels of cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), 17α-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase (CYP17A1), and a liver metabolic enzyme (CYP3A4) in the microsome were assessed by immunohistochemical staining or/and western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study illustrates that the administration of CTE (0.4 and 0.8 g/kg) increased sperm count (2.3- and 2.7-folds) and sperm motility (1.3- and 1.4-folds) and decreased the abnormal sperm (0.76- and 0.6-folds). The serum level of progesterone and testosterone in rats was also increased by CTE administration (p < 0.05). Results of immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis confirmed that the expression of CYP11A1, CYP17A1, and CYP3A4 was enhanced by CTE (p < 0.05). It was also found that high-dose of CTE can cause mild hepatic edema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the increase in sex hormone levels could be mediated by the induction of testicular steroidogenic enzymes.
authors.affiliation: a College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University , Yangling , China .
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: b College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology , Hanzhong , China , and.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: a College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University , Yangling , China .|b College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology , Hanzhong , China , and.
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: b College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology , Hanzhong , China , and.
authors.forename: Baiwan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biomedical Sciences , University of Guelph , Guelph , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Gordon Michael
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.affiliation: a College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University , Yangling , China .
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031671:Cistanche; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000819:agonists / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018547:Plant Stems; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: CYP11A1; CYP17A1; CYP3A4; progesterone; testosterone