Study M932

Study name

Li D 2022d

Title

3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expressed by gut microbes degrades testosterone and is linked to depression in males

Overall design

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships among testosterone deficiency, depression, and the gut microbiota. The authors explored whether the key enzyme mediating testosterone degradation in Mycobacterium neoaurum in the gut could cause depression-like behavior. The gene MN2019_09885 that encodes 3b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in Mycobacterium neoaurum was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) cells and E. coli BL21 (DE3)/pDL01 was obtained. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with an antibiotic cocktail in their drinking water for 1 week to deplete the gut microbiota before gavage. Then rats were divided into the following 2 groups: (1) control group (rats received saline), and (2) E. coli BL21 (DE3)/pDL01-recipient group (rats received E. coli BL21 (DE3)/pDL01 once daily for 3 successive days). E. coli BL21 (DE3)/pDL01-recipient rats exhibited depression-like behaviors. Serum and brain samples were used for targeted metabonomic analysis (n =12/group).

Study Type

Type1;

Data available

Unavailable

Organism

Rat; Sprague-Dawley rat;

Categories of depression

Animal model; Other animal model; Other animal model;

Criteria for depression

Tail suspension test, forced swimming test

Sample size

24

Tissue

Peripheral; Blood; Serum;

Central; Brain; Brain;

Platform

MS-based; LC-MS: Ekspert ultraLC 100-XL system (AB SCIEX, Framingham, MA, USA) with AB SCIEX 4500 QTRAP mass spectrometer;

PMID

35108497

DOI

10.1016/j.chom.2022.01.001

Citation

Li D, Liu R, Wang M, et al. 3beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expressed by gut microbes degrades testosterone and is linked to depression in males. Cell Host Microbe. 2022 Mar 9;30(3):329-339.e5.

Metabolite

Testosterone;