A novel factor of interest for growth/plasticity in the brain is pregnane xenobiotic receptor (PXR). PXR is a liver factor known for its role in xenobiotic clearance and cholesterol metabolism. It is expressed in the brain, suggesting a potential role for plasticity, particularly involving cholesterol-based steroids and neurosteroids. Mating induces synthesis of neurosteroids in the midbrain Ve...

BACKGROUND The contribution of 5α-reductase 1 and 5α-reductase 2 to prostate cancer development and progression is not clearly understood. TRAMP mice are a common prostate cancer model, in which 5α-reductase 1 and 5α-reductase 2 expression levels, along with prostate lesions scores, have not been investigated at different time points to further understand prostate carcinogenesis. METHOD/PRINC...

One of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of the immune system by steroid hormones could be the monocytic-macrophage system. In this study the effect of the male hormone 5a-DHT on cytokine release by peritoneal macrophages (mΦ) of male and female NZB/BALBc mice was investigated. Macrophages from male mice activated with LPS produced a greater amount of IL-1β (21.8%) (p<0.05) and IL-...

This study demonstrates 5α-reductase inhibitory activity of certain herbs useful in the management of androgenic disorders. Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst (GL), Urtica dioica Linn. (UD), Caesalpinia bonducella Fleming. (CB), Tribulus terrestris Linn. (TT), Pedalium murex Linn. (PM), Sphaeranthus indicus Linn. (SI), Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (CR), Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. (CC), Benincasa h...

Seasonal changes in plasma levels of testosterone (T) and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DTH) were examined in the adult male Japanese red-bellied newt. The concentration of plasma T increased significantly (p<0.05) from January to February and decreased drastically from April to July when it reached its minimum. After the summer decline, plasma T increase rapidly from July to October (p<0.05) and rea...

Abstract Paclitaxel (Taxol™), an alkaloid of diterpenoid family, is one the most widely used anti-cancer drugs due to its effectiveness against a variety tumors. Rather than directly extraction and chemical synthesis paclitaxel or intermediates from yew plants, construction microbial cell factory for biosynthesis will be more efficient sustainable. The challenge lies on insufficient precursor, ...