Hey guys! I need some help understanding this study. It says 'addition of D-Asp to testicular tissue acetone powder induced a significant increase of aromatase activity.' The way I see it, D-aspartic acid increases aromatase of testosterone into a form of estrogen. This sounds negative, but all the supplement companies are starting to sell this stuff. Am I understanding the study wrong?
Endogenous testicular D-aspartic acid regulates gonadal aromatase activity in boar.
Lamanna C, Assisi L, Botte V, Di Fiore MM.
Department of Zoology, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy.
D-aspartic acid (D-Asp), aromatase enzyme activity and the putative D-Asp involvement on aromatase induction have been studied in the testis of mature boars. The peroxidase-antiperoxidase and the indirect immunofluorescence methods, applied to cryostat and paraffin sections, were used to evaluate D-Asp and aromatase distributions. D-Asp level was dosed by an enzymatic method performed on boar testis extracts. Biochemical aromatase activity was determined by in vitro experiments carried out on testis extracts. D-Asp immunoreactivity was found in Leydig cells, and, to a lesser extent, in germ cells. Analogously, aromatase immunoreactivity was present in Leydig cells, but absent from seminiferous tubule elements. In vitro experiments showed that the addition of D-Asp to testicular tissue acetone powder induced a significant increase of aromatase activity, as assessed by testosterone conversion to 17beta-estradiol. Enzyme Km was not affected by D-Asp (about 25 nM in control and D-Asp added tests). These findings suggest that D-Asp could be involved in the local regulation of aromatase in boar Leydig cells and intervenes in this organ's production of estrogens.
PMID: 16610240 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Endogenous testicular D-aspartic acid regulates gonadal aromatase activity in boar.
Lamanna C, Assisi L, Botte V, Di Fiore MM.
Department of Zoology, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy.
D-aspartic acid (D-Asp), aromatase enzyme activity and the putative D-Asp involvement on aromatase induction have been studied in the testis of mature boars. The peroxidase-antiperoxidase and the indirect immunofluorescence methods, applied to cryostat and paraffin sections, were used to evaluate D-Asp and aromatase distributions. D-Asp level was dosed by an enzymatic method performed on boar testis extracts. Biochemical aromatase activity was determined by in vitro experiments carried out on testis extracts. D-Asp immunoreactivity was found in Leydig cells, and, to a lesser extent, in germ cells. Analogously, aromatase immunoreactivity was present in Leydig cells, but absent from seminiferous tubule elements. In vitro experiments showed that the addition of D-Asp to testicular tissue acetone powder induced a significant increase of aromatase activity, as assessed by testosterone conversion to 17beta-estradiol. Enzyme Km was not affected by D-Asp (about 25 nM in control and D-Asp added tests). These findings suggest that D-Asp could be involved in the local regulation of aromatase in boar Leydig cells and intervenes in this organ's production of estrogens.
PMID: 16610240 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]