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Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab (May 19, 2009). doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00131.2009
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Submitted on February 27, 2009
Revised on April 22, 2009
Accepted on May 4, 2009

Alteration in Plasma Testosterone Levels in Male Mice Lacking Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase*

Ayala Luria1, Christophe Morisseau2, Hsing-Ju Tsai1, Jun Yang1, Bora Inceoglu1, Bart De Taeye3, Steve M Watkins4, Michelle M Wiest5, J. Bruce German6, and Bruce D Hammock1*

1 University of California, Davis
2 University of California
3 Northwestern University
4 Lipomics
5 University of Idaho
6 University of Califonia, Davis

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: bdhammock{at}ucdavis.edu.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (Ephx2, sEH) is a bifunctional enzyme with C-terminal hydrolase and N-terminal phosphatase activities. sEH converts epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) to dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (DHETs), and the phosphatase activity is suggested to be involved in cholesterol metabolism. EETs participate in a wide range of biological functions including regulation of vascular tone, renal tubular transport, cardiac contractility and inflammation. Inhibition of sEH is a potential approach for enhancing the biological activity of EETs. Therefore, disruption of sEH activity is becoming an attractive therapeutic target for both cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. To define the physiological role of sEH, we characterized a knockout mouse colony lacking expression of the Ephx2-gene. Lack of sEH enzyme is characterized by elevation of EET to DHET ratios in both the linoleate and arachidonate series in plasma and tissues of both female and male mice. In male mice, this lack of expression was also associated with decreased plasma testosterone levels, sperm count and testicular size. However, this genotype was still able to sire litters. Plasma cholesterol levels also declined in this genotype. Behavior tests such as anxiety-like behavior and hedonic response were also examined in Ephx2-null and WT mice, as all can be related to hormonal changes. Null mice showed a level of anxiety with a decrease hedonic response. In conclusion, this study provides a broad biochemical, physiological and behavioral characterization of the Ephx2-null mouse colony and suggests a mechanism by which sEH and its substrates may regulate circulating levels of testosterone through cholesterol biosynthesis and metabolism.




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B. Keseru, E. Barbosa-Sicard, R. T. Schermuly, H. Tanaka, B. D. Hammock, N. Weissmann, B. Fisslthaler, and I. Fleming
Hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension: comparison of soluble epoxide hydrolase deletion vs. inhibition
Cardiovasc Res, September 4, 2009; (2009) cvp281v2.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




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