AUTHOR=Joung Jae Yeon , Lim Whasun , Seo Yeon Jeong , Ham Jiyeon , Oh Nam Su , Kim Sae Hun 

TITLE=A Synbiotic Combination of Lactobacillus gasseri 505 and Cudrania tricuspidata Leaf Extract Prevents Stress-Induced Testicular Dysfunction in Mice

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.835033

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2022.835033

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=<p>This study investigated the effects of a synbiotic combination (Syn) of <italic>Lactobacillus gasseri</italic> 505 (505) and <italic>Cudrania tricuspidata</italic> leaf extract (CT) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in mice under chronic stress. Unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) significantly increased the serum levels of corticosterone, however, treatment with Syn suppressed UCMS-induced increases. Histopathological analysis of the testes showed that these organs experienced some damage during UCMS, but this was repaired following treatment with Syn. Similarly, the transcription levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (<italic>GnRH</italic>), GnRH receptor, and gonadotropins, moreover, testicular development (i.e., <italic>Adam5</italic>, <italic>Adam29</italic>, and <italic>Spam1</italic>) - and steroidogenesis (i.e., <italic>Lhr</italic>, <italic>Egfr</italic>, and <italic>StAR</italic>) -related genes were significantly downregulated by UCMS. These UCMS-induced changes were inhibited by the administration of Syn, which was confirmed by the results of <italic>in situ</italic> hybridization analysis. These results suggest that the administration of Syn could attenuate the testicular dysfunctions induced by UCMS.</p>