Effect of rifampicin on the biosynthesis of testosterone in rat testis

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Abstract
Male Wistar rats were treated with rifampicin (10 mg/kg) daily for 5 days. After 6 days, the rats were killed and the testes homogenized in Tris buffer. The microsomal fractions were incubated with [4-14C]-progesterone, [4-14C]17-hydroxyprogesterone or [4-14C]-4-androstene-3,17-dione, respectively, and a NADPH generating system. In rifampicin-treated animals, less [4-14C]progesterone was recovered after incubation with testicular microsomes than in controls. There was no significant difference in the formation of 17-hydroxyprogesterone between rifampicin-treated animals and the controls; however, a significant increase was found in the androstenedione fraction (+83%) and the testosterone fraction (+48%) under the influence of rifampicin. When [4-14C]17-hydroxyprogesterone or [4-14C]4-androstene-3,17-dione were incubated, no differences in the metabolic pattern were observed between treated and untreated rats. Apparently, rifampicin stimulates the activity of 17.alpha.-hydroxylase in the microsomal fraction of rat testes, leading to an increased formation of testosterone and androstenedione; the 17,20-lyase and 17.beta.-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase remain unaffected by rifampicin.

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