BACKGROUND: Lower testosterone levels have been reported in men suffering from diabetes mellitus. Men with insulin resistance states such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus have significantly lower testosterone levels than age-matched normal weight and non-diabetic controls. Adipose tissue secretes variety of adipokinesincluding adiponectin, resistin, visfatin, TNF-alpha. The study was designed to study the effect of visfatin on testicular steroidogenesis in purified Leydig cell in vitro. METHODS: Leydig cells of Sprague Dawley rats were isolated and purified by Percoll. Cells were incubated for 3 hours with/without visfatin in the presence/absence of LH and intracellular signalling blockers including PKC blocker, PKA blocker and Raf1/Ras blocker. Cell culture extracts were stored at -80 before analysis for levels of testosterone hormone by ELISA. RESULTS: Visfatin increased testosterone production (p < 0.001) from cultured Leydig cells. Raf1/Ras blocker decreased visfatin induced steroidogenesis (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Visfatin increased testicular steroidogenesis from Leydig cells in vitro models and operates through variety of enzymes, but especially through Ras/Raf1 kinase enzymes.
BACKGROUND: Lower testosterone levels have been reported in men suffering from diabetes mellitus. Men with insulin resistance states such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus have significantly lower testosterone levels than age-matched normal weight and non-diabetic controls. Adipose tissue secretes variety of adipokinesincluding adiponectin, resistin, visfatin, TNF-alpha. The study was designed to study the effect of visfatin on testicular steroidogenesis in purified Leydig cell in vitro. METHODS: Leydig cells of Sprague Dawley rats were isolated and purified by Percoll. Cells were incubated for 3 hours with/without visfatin in the presence/absence of LH and intracellular signalling blockers including PKC blocker, PKA blocker and Raf1/Ras blocker. Cell culture extracts were stored at -80 before analysis for levels of testosterone hormone by ELISA. RESULTS:Visfatin increased testosterone production (p < 0.001) from cultured Leydig cells. Raf1/Ras blocker decreased visfatin induced steroidogenesis (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION:Visfatin increased testicular steroidogenesis from Leydig cells in vitro models and operates through variety of enzymes, but especially through Ras/Raf1 kinase enzymes.
Authors: Cristina Antinozzi; Marco Lista; Luisa Caponecchia; Pietro Salacone; Carlo Minganti; Francesco A Battaglia; Luigi Di Luigi; Paolo Sgrò Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2021-07-28 Impact factor: 5.555
Authors: Federica Barbagallo; Rosita A Condorelli; Laura M Mongioì; Rossella Cannarella; Laura Cimino; Maria Cristina Magagnini; Andrea Crafa; Sandro La Vignera; Aldo E Calogero Journal: Metabolites Date: 2021-12-04