Overexpression of CYP19A1 aromatase in L eydig cells is associated with steroidogenic dysfunction in subjects with S ertoli cell‐only syndrome
Summary Several observational studies have showed a combination of lower testosterone (T) to LH ratio and higher estradiol (E 2 ) to T ratio in secretory infertile men compared to men with normal spermatogenesis, suggesting a steroidogenic dysfunction of Leydig cells (Lc) that may involve increased...
Saved in:
Published in | Andrology (Oxford) Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 41 - 48 |
---|---|
Main Authors | , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
01.01.2017
|
Online Access | Get full text |
Cover
Loading…
Summary: | Summary
Several observational studies have showed a combination of lower testosterone (T) to
LH
ratio and higher estradiol (E
2
) to T ratio in secretory infertile men compared to men with normal spermatogenesis, suggesting a steroidogenic dysfunction of Leydig cells (Lc) that may involve increased aromatase activity. Low T/
LH
ratio is associated with Lc hyperplasia, which together with
LH
hyperstimulation may represent compensation for impaired T production. Aromatase expression and oestrogen production are mainly detected in Lc of the testis, although Sertoli and germ cells also contribute to testicular aromatase activity. The aim of this study was to assess the transcriptional expression of
CYP
19A1
(aromatase) in isolated Lc of subjects with Sertoli cell‐only syndrome (
SCOS
) and signs of Lc impairment. Nineteen patients with
SCOS
and 10 controls with normal spermatogenesis who had medical indication of testicular biopsy for sperm retrieval were studied. Leydig cells were isolated by Laser Capture Microdissection (
LCM
) and
CYP
19A1
mRNA
expression was quantified by
SYBR
®
Green‐based
qPCR
. In addition, testicular T and E
2
and serum hormonal levels were measured. Relative to control group,
CYP
19A1
was overexpressed more than twofold in 10/19 cases (2.3–12.2‐fold increase), showing a significant increment in cases with low T/
LH
ratio (T/
LH
< 2) compared to cases with T/
LH
≥ 2 (
p
=
0.038,
REST
®
). Moreover, Rq data for
CYP
19A1
had a direct correlation with testicular levels of E
2
and the E
2
/T ratio (
r
=
0.869;
p
<
0.001 and
r
=
0.633;
p
=
0.005). In summary, Lc from infertile patients with signs of Lc dysfunction overexpressed aromatase and showed an increment of testicular E
2
. Our results suggest that increased expression of aromatase in Lc leads to higher E
2
production and may account for the functional impairment of the Lc in patients with SCOS. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 2047-2919 2047-2927 |
DOI: | 10.1111/andr.12289 |