Opposing effects of D-aspartic acid and nitric oxide on tuning of testosterone production in mallard testis during the reproductive cycle

• Published in: Reproductive biology and endocrinology Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 28
• Main Authors: Di Fiore, Maria M, Lamanna, Claudia, Assisi, Loredana, Botte, Virgilio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 04.07.2008; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Animals; Arginine - metabolism; Arginine - pharmacology; Aspartate; Breeding; D-Aspartic Acid - metabolism; D-Aspartic Acid - pharmacology; Ducks; Leydig Cells - drug effects; Leydig Cells - metabolism; Male; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nitric Oxide - pharmacology; Nitric Oxide Synthase - metabolism; Physiological aspects; Reproduction - drug effects; Reproduction - physiology; Spermatogenesis; Testis - cytology; Testis - drug effects; Testis - metabolism; Testosterone - biosynthesis; Testosterone - blood; Italy

D-Aspartic acid (D-Asp) and nitric oxide (NO) play an important role in tuning testosterone production in the gonads of male vertebrates. In particular, D-Asp promotes either the synthesis or the release of testosterone, whereas NO inhibits it. In this study, we have investigated for the first time...