Journal of Andrology
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Published-Ahead-of-Print November 1, 2006, DOI:10.2164/jandrol.106.000810

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Ghrelin expression in human testis and serum testosterone level

Tomomoto Ishikawa *, Hitoshi Fujioka , Takeshi Ishimura , Atsushi Takenaka , and Masato Fujisawa

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: iskwtmmt{at}med.kobe-u.ac.jp.

Objectives: Ghrelin, the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone (GH) secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), has been primarily linked to the central neuroendocrine regulation of GH secretion and food intake, although additional peripheral actions of ghrelin have also been reported. Recent research has suggested that ghrelin may also have an effect on testosterone (T) secretion in vitro. To investigate the role of ghrelin in human testisticular function, we examined the expression of ghrelin in the testicular tissue by immunohistochemistry. Methods: Testicular tissue samples were collected from the testes of 5 fertile volunteers, 8 patients with obstructive azoospermia, and 36 oligospermic patients with varicocele testis. In testicular tissue, ghrelin was stained by anti-ghrelin polyclonal antibody. In all testicular tissue, Johnsen's score was calculated. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), lutenizing hormone (LH), and T concentration were determined by chemiluminescence assays. Results: Ghrelin immunostained cells were found in interstitium, Leydig cell. Ghrelin expression on Leydig cell was inversely correlated with serum T concentration (r=-0.50; p< 0.001), while it did not directly related to the spermatogenesis. Conclusions: Steroidogenic dysfunction is resultantly associated with increase of ghrelin expression in human testis.


Key words: Testis • Leydig • ghrelin • testosterone




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M. Kluge, P. Schussler, M. Uhr, A. Yassouridis, and A. Steiger
Ghrelin Suppresses Secretion of Luteinizing Hormone in Humans
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2007; 92(8): 3202 - 3205.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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