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Aerobic exercise training increases testosterone production in the testis in OLETF rats
Author(s) -
Kumagai Hiroshi,
ZempoMiyaki Asako,
Myoenzono Kanae,
Maeda Seiji
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.1288.10
Subject(s) - medicine , testosterone (patch) , endocrinology , aerobic exercise , hormone
Testosterone is a male sex hormone and low circulating testosterone levels are associated with cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus. Obesity results in reduced circulating testosterone levels. We have demonstrated that lifestyle modifications (increased physical activity and calorie restriction) can increase circulating testosterone levels in obese men and increased physical activity is important for lifestyle modification‐induced increase in circulating testosterone levels. However, it is unclear the mechanism underlying regular exercise‐induced increase in circulating testosterone levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise training on testosterone production in the testis in male Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat. OLETF rats (12 weeks of age) were assigned randomly into exercise group (n = 8) and control group (n = 8). In the exercise group, rats ran on the treadmill for 8 weeks (for 60 min at 25 m/min, 5 days/week). After the 8‐week aerobic exercise training, we analyzed circulating and testis testosterone levels by EIA, and the protein expression of 17β‐HSD, enzyme regulating testosterone, in the testis by western blotting. After the 8‐week aerobic exercise training, body mass was significantly lower in the exercise group than control group. Circulating and testis testosterone levels were significantly higher in the exercise group than control group. Also, the protein expression of 17β‐HSD in the testis was higher in the exercise group than control group. In the present study, circulating and testis testosterone levels increased after the 8‐week aerobic exercise training in OLETF rat. Furthermore, the protein expression of 17β‐HSD in the testis in OLETF rat increased after aerobic exercise training. Therefore, the 8‐week aerobic exercise training increases testosterone and 17β‐HSD productions in the testis in OLETF rat, thereby contributing to the increased circulating testosterone level after exercise training.