A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
The gut microbiota is a major regulator of androgen metabolism in intestinal contents
Authors: Hannah Colldén, Andreas Landin, Ville Wallenius, Erik Elebring, Lars Fändriks, Maria E. Nilsson, Henrik Ryberg, Matti Poutanen, Klara Sjögren, Liesbeth Vandenput, Claes Ohlsson
Publisher: AMER PHYSIOLOGICAL SOC
Publication year: 2019
Journal: American Journal of Physiology : Endocrinology and Metabolism
Journal name in source: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
Journal acronym: AM J PHYSIOL-ENDOC M
Volume: 317
Issue: 6
First page : E1182
Last page: E1192
Number of pages: 11
ISSN: 0193-1849
eISSN: 1522-1555
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00338.2019
Web address : https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpendo.00338.2019
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/45388505
Androgens exert important effects both in androgen-responsive tissues and in the intestinal tract. To determine the impact of the gut microbiota (GM) on intestinal androgen metabolism, we measured unconjugated (free) and glucuronidated androgen levels in intestinal contents from the small intestine, with a low bacterial density, and from cecum and colon, with a high bacterial density. Using a specific, sensitive gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method, we detected high levels of glucuronidated testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in small intestinal content of mice of both sexes, whereas in the distal intestine we observed remarkably high levels of free DHT, exceeding serum levels by >20-fold. Similarly, in young adult men high levels of unconjugated DHT, >70-fold higher than in serum, were detected in feces. In contrast to mice with a normal GM composition, germ-free mice had high levels of glucuronidated T and DHT, but very low free DHT levels, in the distal intestine. These findings demonstrate that the GM is involved in intestinal metabolism and deglucuronidation of DHT and T, resulting in extremely high free levels of the most potent androgen, DHT, in the colonic content of young and healthy mice and men.
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