Gut microbiota affects the estrus return of sows by regulating the metabolism of sex steroid hormones

Background Sex hormones play important roles in the estrus return of post-weaning sows.Previous studies have demonstrated a complex and bi-directional regulation between sex hormones and gut microbiota.However,the extent to which the gut microbiota affects estrus return of post-weaning sows is largely unknown.Results In this study,we first screened 207 fecal samples from well-phenotyped sows by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and identified significant associations between microbes and estrus return of post-weaning sows.Using metagenomic sequencing data from 85 fecal samples,we identified 37 bacterial species that were significantly associated with estrus return.Normally returning sows were characterized by increased abundances of L.reuteri and P.copri and decreased abundances of B.fragilis,S.suis,and B.pseudolongum.The changes in gut microbial composition significantly altered the functional capacity of steroid hormone biosynthesis in the gut microbiome.The results were confirmed in a validation cohort.Significant changes in sex steroid hormones and related compounds were found between normal and non-return sows via metabolome analysis.An integrated analysis of differential bacterial species,metagenome,and fecal metabolome provided evidence that normal return-associated bacterial species L.reuteri and Prevotella spp.participated in the degradation of pregnenolone,progesterone,and testosterone,thereby promoting estrogen biosynthesis.Furthermore,the microbial metabolites related to sow energy and nutrient supply or metabolic disorders also showed relationships with sow estrus return.Conclusions An integrated analysis of differentially abundant bacterial species,metagenome,and fecal metabolome revealed the involvement of L.reuteri and Prevotella spp.in sow estrus return.These findings provide deep insight into the role of gut microbiota in the estrus return of post-weaning sows and the complex cross-talk between gut microbiota and sex hormones,suggesting that the manipulation of the gut microbiota could be an effective strategy to improve sow estrus return after weaning.

Hydroxylation and sulfation of sex steroid hormones in inflammatory liver

Sex steroids, also known as gonadal steroids, are oxidized with hydroxylation by cytochrome P450,glucuronidation by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, sulfation by sulfotransferase, and O-methylation by catechol Omethyltransferase. Thus, it is important to determine the process by which inflammation influences metabolism of gonadal hormones. Therefore, we investigated the mechanism of metabolic enzymes against high physiologic inflammatory response in vivo to study their biochemical properties in liver diseases. In this study, C57BL/6N mice were induced with hepatic inflammation by diethylnitrosamine(DEN) exposure. We observed upregulation of Cyp19a1, Hsd17b1, Cyplal, Sult1e1 in the DEN-treated livers compared to the control-treated livers using real time PCR. Moreover, the increased Cyp19a1 and Hsd17b1 levels support the possibility that estrogen biosynthesis from androgens are accumulated during inflammatory liver diseases. Furthermore, the increased levels of Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1 in the hydroxylation of estrogen facilitated the conversion of estrogen to 2-or 4-hydroxyestrogen,respectively. In addition, the substantial increase in the Sultlel enzyme levels could lead to sulfate conjugation of hydroxyestrogen. The present information supports the concept that inflammatory response can sequester sulfate conjugates from the endogenous steroid hormones and may suppress binding of sex steroid hormones to their receptors in the whole body.

Metformin:A promising clinical therapeutical approach for BPH treatment via inhibiting dysregulated steroid hormones-induced prostatic epithelial cells proliferation

The occurrence of benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH)was related to disrupted sex steroid hormones,and metformin(Met)had a clinical response to sex steroid hormone-related gynaecological disease.However,whether Met exerts an antiproliferative effect on BPH via sex steroid hormones remains unclear.Here,our clinical study showed that along with prostatic epithelial cell(PEC)proliferation,sex steroid hormones were dysregulated in the serum and prostate of BPH patients.As the major contributor to dysregulated sex steroid hormones,elevated dihydrotestosterone(DHT)had a significant positive relationship with the clinical characteristics of BPH patients.Activation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK)by Met restored dysregulated sex steroid hormone homeostasis and exerted antiproliferative effects against DHT-induced proliferation by inhibiting the formation of androgen receptor(AR)-mediated Yes-associated protein(YAP1)-TEA domain transcription factor(TEAD4)heterodimers.Met’s anti-proliferative effects were blocked by AMPK inhibitor or YAP1 overexpression in DHT-cultured BPH-1 cells.Our findings indicated that Met would be a promising clinical therapeutic approach for BPH by inhibiting dysregulated steroid hormone-induced PEC proliferation.

Associations of waist circumference with sex steroid hormones among 4031 USA children and adolescents

In the recent decades,obesity rates among children and adolescents,especially males,have increased significantly.This worldwide phenomenon is thought to significantly affect the levels of sex hormones.However,the association between waist circumference(a marker of abdominal obesity)and sex hormone levels in children and adolescents is unknown.In this study,4031 participants aged 6–19 years from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)in the USA were enrolled in this study.The common confounders of age,race,body mass index,educational level,family income,diabetes,and time of sample collection were also collected.The participants missing any of the above information were excluded from the study.We used multiple linear regression and other multiple statistics to assess the associations between waist circumference and serum testosterone,estradiol,sex hormone-binding globulin(SHBG),free androgen index(FAI),and testosterone/estradiol ratio(T/E2).Waist circumference remained associated with sex hormone levels in children and adolescents after controlling for covariates.As waist circumference increases,testosterone levels in children and adolescents show an overall decline after a brief increase,with the inflection point for waist circumference of 65–66 cm.In addition,waist circumference positively correlates with estradiol levels in male children(β=0.007,95%confidence interval:0.004–0.009).Moreover,circulating SHBG decreases in children and adolescents as waist circumference increases.In conclusion,this study highlighted waist circumference as a vital indicator affecting sex hormone levels in children and adolescents.

Isolation and characterization of a bacterial strain that efficiently degrades sex steroid hormones

A bacterial strain,ZY3,growing on sex steroid hormones as the sole source of carbon and energy was isolated from the sewage treatment plant of a prophylactic steroids factory.ZY3 degrades the 3-methoxy-17b-hydroxy-1,3,5(10),8(9)-d-4-estren(MHE).This strain was preli-minarily identified as Raoultella sp.ZY3 according to its morphology and its 16S rRNA gene sequence.During the experimental period(72 h),the optimum temperature,pH and 3-MHE concentration for the degradation of hydride by the strain ZY3 were 35°C,10 and 10 mg/L,respectively.The degradation rate of the sex steroid hormones increased to 87%and 85% after the addition of maltose and peptone,respectively.

Study on two steroidal sex hormones in rice

Steroidal sex hormones including androgensand estrogens are important in the reproduc-tive development of mammals. A number ofstudies suggested that these steroids mighthave similar functions in plants. A latest re-search on Nongken 58s, a photoperiod-sensi-tire genie male-sterile rice (PGMR), showed

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-End-Organ Axes:Hormone Function in Female Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Classic hypothalamic-pituitary-end-organ feedback loops–the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis(HPAA),hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroidal axis(HPTA),and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis(HPGA)–are associated with the neuroendocrine and immune systems in major depressive disorder(MDD).Female patients with MDD present with evident neuroendocrine and immunological changes.Glucocorticoid,thyroid hormone,and reproductive steroid levels fluctuate with menstrual cycles,which might lead to glucocorticoid receptor resistance,impairment of triiodothyronine conversion,and sex hormone secretion disorders.In this review,we summarize the independent and interactive functions of these three axes in female MDD patients.The similar molecular structure of steroids implies an interrelationship between the hypothalamic-pituitary-end-organ axes and the competitive inhibitory effects at the receptor level,especially when considering the HPAA and HPGA.