Circulating androgen regulation by androgen- catabolizing gut bacteria in male mouse gut
Abnormally high circulating androgen levels have been considered a causative factor for benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostate cancer in men. Thauera sp. strain GDN1 is an unusual betaproteobacterium capable of catabolizing androgens. We administered C57BL/6 mice with strain GDN1 through oral gavage. We found that the administered strain GDN1 regulated mouse serum androgen levels, possibly because it blocked androgen recycling through enterohepatic circulation. Our data thus indicate the possible applicability of androgen-catabolic gut bacteria as potent probiotics in alternative therapy of hyperandrogenism.
