Leydig cells secrete testosterone, which is essential for male fertility and reproductive health. Stress increases the secretion of glucocorticoid (corticosterone, CORT; in rats), which decreases circulating testosterone levels in part through a direct action by binding to the glucocorticoid receptors (NR3C1) in Leydig cells. The intratesticular CORT level is dependent on oxidative inactivation of glucocorticoid by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (HSD11B1) in Leydig cells. In the present study, we investigated the time-course changes of steroidogenic gene expression levels after acute immobilization stress in rats. The plasma CORT levels were significantly increased 0.5, 1, 3 and 6 h after immobilization stress, while plasma testosterone levels were significantly reduced 3 and 6 h, after stress and luteinizing hormone (LH) did not change. Immobilization stress caused the down-regulation of Scarb1, Star and Cyp17a1 expression levels in the rat testis starting at the first hour of stress, ahead of the significant decreases of plasma testosterone levels. Other mRNA levels, including Cyp11a1, Hsd3b1 and Hsd17b3, began to decline after 3 h. Hsd11b1 and Nos2 mRNA levels did not change during the course of stress. Administration of glucocorticoid antagonist RU486 significantly restored plasma testosterone levels. In conclusion, Scarb1, Star and Cyp17a1 expression levels are more sensitive to acute stress, and acute immobilization stress causes the decline of the steroidogenic pathway via elevating the levels of glucocorticoid, which binds to NR3C1 in Leydig cells to inhibit steroidogenic gene expression.

11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) and type 2 (11β-HSD2) are expressed in rat testis, where they regulate the local concentrations of glucocorticoids. Here, we investigated the expression and localization of 11β-HSD in rat testis during postnatal development, and the regulation of these genes by luteinizing hormone (LH) and androgens. mRNA and protein levels were analyzed by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively, in testes collected from rats at postnatal day (PND) 7, 14, 21, 35, and 90, and from rats treated with LH, 7α-methyl-19-nortestosterone (MENT) and testosterone at PND 21 and PND 90. Immunohistochemical staining was used to identify the localization of the 11β-HSD in rat testis at PND 7, 14, and 90. We found that 11β-HSD1 expression was restricted to the interstitial areas, and that its levels increased during rat testis development. In contrast, whereas 11β-HSD2 was expressed in both the interstitial areas and seminiferous tubules at PND 7, it was present only in the interstitial areas at PND 90, and its levels declined during testicular development. Moreover, 11β-HSD1 mRNA was induced by LH in both the PND 21 and 90 testes and by MENT at PND 21, whereas 11β-HSD2 mRNA was induced by testosterone and MENT in the PND 21 testis and by LH in the PND 90 testis. In conclusion, our study indicates that the 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2 genes have distinct patterns of spatiotemporal expression and hormonal regulation during postnatal development of the rat testis.

Objective. To discuss the effects of genistein on the metabolism of celecoxib in vitro and in vivo.Method. In vitro, the effects of genistein on the metabolism of celecoxib were studied using rat and human liver microsomes. In vivo, pharmacokinetics of celecoxib was evaluated in rats with or without genistein. Fifteen Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into three groups: celecoxib (A group), celecoxib and 50 mg/kg genistein (B group), and celecoxib and 100 mg/kg genistein (C group). Single dose of 33.3 mg/kg celecoxib was orally administered 30 min after genistein ig. At 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 24 h after celecoxib administration, 300–400 µl blood samples were collected and the concentration of celecoxib was analyzed by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system.Result. Genistein showed notable inhibitory effects on three microsomes. It affected pharmacokinetics of celecoxib in vivo experiments. Genistein had dramatically ability to suppress CYP2C9∗1 and ∗3. After pretreatment with genistein, AUC andC_maxof the C group were higher than B group. CL_z/F of C group was lower than the B group.Conclusion. Genistein inhibits the conversion of celecoxib in vitro and in vivo. So, the dosage of celecoxib should be adjusted if it was used associated with genistein.

Objective: To investigate the impact of resveratrol on the metabolism of ibrutinib in vitro and in vivo. Methods: In vitro, rat liver microsomes (RLM) and human liver microsomes (HLM) were used to study. In vivo, 18 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 6): ibrutinib and the multiple dose of 100 mg/kg resveratrol for consecutive 7 days (Group A), ibrutinib and the single dose of 100 mg/kg resveratrol (Group B), ibrutinib (Group C). Processed samples were analyzed by UPLC–MS/MS. Results: Resveratrol showed inhibition on RLM and HLM in vitro. The IC₅₀ of resveratrol was 8.745 µM in RLM and 7.789 µM in HLM. Furthermore, Groups A and B both increased the AUC and reduced the CLz/F. The C_max of Group A and the MRT_(0–t) of Group B were significantly improved. Conclusions: Resveratrol inhibits the pharmacokinetic of ibrutinib in vitro and in vivo. It is necessary to pay more attention to adjust the dose of the drug when resveratrol is used in combination with ibrutinib.

Oxcarbazepine (OXC), a second-generation antiepileptic drug, undergoes rapid reduction with formation of the active metabolite 10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-carbazepine (MHD) in vivo. In this study, a method for simultaneous determination of OXC and MHD in rat plasma using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS-MS) was developed and validated. Under given chromatographic conditions, OXC, MHD and internal standard diazepam were separated well and quantified by electrospray positive ionization mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring transitions mode. The method validation demonstrated good linearity over the range of 10–2,000 ng/mL for OXC and 5–1,000 ng/mL for MHD. The lower limit of quantification was 5 ng/mL for OXC and 2.5 ng/mL for MHD, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the evaluation of the pharmacokinetics of OXC and MHD in rats, with or without pretreatment by ketoconazole (KET) and voriconazole (VOR). Statistics indicated that KET and VOR significantly affected the disposition of OXC and MHD in vivo, whereas VOR predominantly interfered with the disposition of MHD. This method is suitable for pharmacokinetic study in small animals.