Biotin Enhances Testosterone Production in Mice and Their Testis-Derived Cells

Abstract

Late-onset hypogonadism, a male age-related syndrome characterized by a decline in testosterone production in the testes, is commonly treated with testosterone replacement therapy, which has adverse side effects. Therefore, an alternative treatment is highly sought. Supplementation of a high dosage of biotin, a water-soluble vitamin that functions as a coenzyme for carboxylases involved in carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, has been shown to influence testis functions. However, the involvement of biotin in testis steroidogenesis has not been well clarified. In this study, we examined the effect of biotin on testosterone levels in mice and testis-derived cells. In mice, intraperitoneal treatment with biotin (1.5 mg/kg body weight) enhanced testosterone levels in the serum and testes, without elevating serum levels of pituitary luteinizing hormone. To investigate the mechanism in which biotin increased the testosterone level, mice testis-derived I-10 cells were used. The cells treated with biotin increased testosterone production in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Biotin treatment elevated intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels via adenylate cyclase activation, followed by the activation of protein kinase A and testosterone production. These results suggest that biotin may have the potential to improve age-related male syndromes associated with declining testosterone production.

Biotin Homeostasis and Human Disorders: Recent Findings and Perspectives

“…As previously reported, biotin can enhance the sperm motility and prolong the survival of frozen–thawed semen samples, which might be beneficial in the assisted reproductive technology field [ 184 ]. In a recent article, the authors showed that intraperitoneal administration of biotin to mice resulted in an increase in testosterone levels in serum and testes; as reported, this effect might be mediated by an increase in adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and subsequent activation of protein kinase A [ 185 ]. In another recent article, it was implied that biotin, among other pharmacologically active compounds (ascorbic acid, biotin, caffeine, and L-cysteine) may target COVID-19-related differentially expressed genes and affect COVID-19-associated male infertility [ 186 ].…”