α-Tocotrienol in rice bran enhances steroidogenesis in mouse Leydig cell via increased gene expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and induction of its mitochondrial translocation

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2023 Oct 25:zbad153. doi: 10.1093/bbb/zbad153. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTRice is a staple food in the Asian region and one of the world's major energy sources. Testosterone is a steroid hormone that maintains physical, sexual, and cognitive ability and its decline causes health problems like late-onset hypogonadism. Evaluation of various grain extracts showed rice bran to stimulate testosterone secretion from Leydig model cell. α-Tocotrienol was found as a bioactive compound in rice bran, and mechanistic analysis showed the stimulation of steroid hormone synthesis through enhanced gene expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein as well as inducing mitochondrial localization of the protein. Preliminary study showed increasing trend in serum testosterone levels in mice by oral intake of α-tocotrienol. These results suggest that α-tocotrienol intake may be effective in preventing symptoms caused by low testosterone levels.PMID:37880998 | DOI:10.1093/bbb/zbad153
Source: Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Source Type: research