Abstract
Water extracts from pawpaw seed have been reported to reversibly decrease the testicular weight and to suppress spermatogenesis, and fertility of Wistar rats. The reversible changes become evident, 30 - 45 days after the withdrawal of the extract. The possible effect of this extract on the activities of steroidogenic enzymes of the testis has not been investigated. Water extract of papaya seeds was administered to male Sprague Dawley rats ad libitum for 84 days. Following the discontinuation of the extracts, ten rats each were sacrificed on days 0, 10, 20 and 30 after the withdrawal. Their testes were quickly dissected out and frozen. Cryostat sections, 10µm thick were cut. These sections were used for immunohistochemical stains for side chain cleavage enzyme and aromatase, and for histochemical stains for 17-β Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, 3-β Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. We conclude that the water extract of papaya seed suppresses the activities of steroidogenic enzymes in the testis of Sprague Dawley rats, and that this may contribute to reversible suppression of spermatogenesis, a property that gives a possible male contraceptive potential.
Highlights
Cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc, CYP11A), catalyzes the first and rate-limiting enzymatic step in the biosynthesis of all steroid hormones
Result shows significant decrease in the mean reactivities of P450 Side Chain Cleavage Enzyme (P450scc), 3-Beta Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (3 -HSD), 17 Beta Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (17 -HSD), and P450arom) after the animals have been treated with the extract for 84 days {p
Spermatogenesis is dependent on follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary and testosterone and estradiol form the testis
Summary
Cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc, CYP11A), catalyzes the first and rate-limiting enzymatic step in the biosynthesis of all steroid hormones. The reaction requires three molecules of oxygen, three molecules of NADPH, and the mitochondrial electron transfer system (Payne and Hales, 2004). It catalyzes three sequential oxidation reactions of cholesterol with each reaction requiring one molecule of oxygen and one molecule of NADPH. Isocaproaldehyde is oxidized to isocaprioic acid (Boyd and Simpson, 1968, Burnstein and Gut, 1976). The electrons required for the reaction are transferred from NADPH to ferrodoxin and to P450scc (Simpson, 1979)
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