Effect of brominated flame retardant BDE-47 on androgen production of adult rat Leydig cells

► We explored the effect of BDE-47 on androgen production of Leydig cells. ► Low dose BDE-47 increased testosterone at a dose-dependent manner. ► StAR, cAMP and P450Scc might be its potential action sites. ► This is the first report on effects of low dose BDE-47 on testosterone production in ALCs in vitro. As one of the most abundant polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) detected in adipose tissue and breast milk of humans, 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) is considered as a potential endocrine disruptor. The objective of this study is to explore whether environment-related level of BDE-47 could affect the androgen production in rat Leydig cells. Rat adult Leydig cells (ALCs) were treated with 10−8 to 10−4M BDE-47 in vitro, the production of testosterone (T) and steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein level were determined. BDE-47 significantly increased basal T production and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) level of ALCs after treatment with 10−4M BED-47. Overall, LH (0.1ng/ml) stimulated T production in ALCs by 6 folds, however it did not increase T production in BDE-47-treated ALCs when compared to untreated ALC. Both 8-Br-cAMP (for cAMP signaling) and 22R-hydroxycholesterol (22-diol, for P450 cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme P450scc activity) significantly increased T production in ALCs treated with BDE-47 from 10−7 to 10−5M. The results of this study indicate that environment-related level of BDE-47 in vitro increased T production in a dose-dependent manner. The stimulated effects of BDE-47 on StAR and P450scc might play key roles in BDE-47-mediated stimulation of T production.