Does Cordyceps enhance male sexual health?
Today, we'll explore Cordyceps and its potential benefits for male sexual health. The focus will be on the cellular mechanisms behind how Cordyceps can enhance male sexual health. This will give us a unique overview about how this fungus supports sexual vitality. We've touched on clinical studies looking at the impact of Cordyceps on human sexual health in previous blogs. Perhaps in the future, we'll dive into these studies again -- this blog will focus on male sexual health at the biological and cellular level.
How does the body produce steroid hormones, such as testosterone, that are crucial for male reproductive health?
At a biological level, several steps are involved in creating testosterone, essential for male sexual functioning and activity. These steps are summarized in the figure to the right, which includes the influence of Cordyceps and cordycepin.
Where do Cordyceps and cordycepin fit in?
Step 3 - Luteinizing Hormone (LH) acting on Leydig Cells
Ophiocordyceps sinensis and cordycepin enhance the sensitivity of LH receptors on Leydig cells. This means that even lower levels of LH are more effective, as the Leydig cell receptors are more likely to bind with LH, promoting the continuation of testosterone production.
Step 4 - Activation of G-Proteins
Ophiocordyceps sinensis and cordycepin help stabilize the interaction between the LH receptor and G-proteins. "Stabilization" here means that Cordyceps and cordycepin make the LH receptor and G-protein interaction stronger, longer-lasting, and more efficient. By doing this, Cordyceps and cordycepin reduce the likelihood of the LH receptor and G-protein interaction signal terminating early. This ensures the signal is fully transmitted, allowing the continuation of the cellular process necessary for testosterone production.
Step 5 - Production of cAMP
Cyclic AMP (cAMP) is a crucial signaling molecule that activates Protein Kinase A (PKA). The production of cAMP is triggered by the enzyme adenylate cyclase. Cordyceps sinensis and cordycepin enhance the activity of adenylate cyclase. This means that more cAMP is produced, which is vital for the next steps in creating testosterone. By boosting cAMP levels, Cordyceps ensures that there is sufficient activation of PKA.
Step 6 - Activation of PKA
Cordyceps and cordycepin increase cAMP production, which enhances PKA activity. Cordyceps/cordycepin-enriched PKA is more effective at activating the StAR protein, which is vital for testosterone creation. PKA activates the StAR protein by phosphorylating it, which means adding phosphate groups to the protein. This phosphorylation changes how the protein works, enabling it to transport cholesterol into the mitochondria, where testosterone synthesis begins.
Step 7 - Stimulation of StAR Protein/Cholesterol Conversion to Pregnenolone
The Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory (StAR) protein is essential for transporting cholesterol into the mitochondria, where it can be converted into pregnenolone, the precursor to testosterone. Cordyceps and cordycepin enhance the StAR protein's ability to bind and transport cholesterol. This means that Cordyceps/cordycepin-enriched StAR is more effective at transporting cholesterol into the mitochondria, thereby boosting testosterone production compared to non-Cordyceps/cordycepin-enriched StAR.
Step 8 - Optimization of Pregnenolone to Testosterone Conversion
Various enzymes such as 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and 7β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (7β-HSD) are involved in converting pregnenolone to testosterone. Cordyceps and cordycepin assist with these enzymes to more effectively convert pregnenolone into testosterone. This enhanced efficiency means that more pregnenolone is turned into testosterone rather than being diverted into other pathways or remaining unused.
What impact does Cordyceps militaris have on sexual health metrics?
To answer this question, we'll look at the impact of Cordyceps militaris extracts on sexual health metrics in rats. Because this study is done on rats, we can't conclude with certainty that these results will transfer to humans. However, the data from this research gives us a good insight into the potential of Cordyceps on sexual health.
We suggest watching Cordyceps Chronicles Episode 9 by clicking on the thumbnail below. We do a full and meticulous breakdown of this study. The main takeaways are shown below.
In this study, the reproductive health of rats was intentionally damaged by a substance called sodium valproate (VPA). Sodium valproate negatively impacted several reproductive health metrics, including:
Decreasing Sexual Organ Weight
The following sexual organs had their weight significantly reduced by VPA:- Testes
- Vesicles
- Levator Ani Muscle
- Epididymis
Decreasing Semen and Sperm Properties
The following semen/sperm properties were impacted by VPA:
- Sperm density
- The number of sperm present in semen
- Alive sperm percentage
- The proportion of living sperm
- Forward progression
- Ability of sperm to move straight forward
- Slow-progressive motility
- Sperm moving straight forward, but at a slower pace
- Non-progressive motility
- Sperm that move in tight circles or with no forward progression
- No-mobility
- Sperm not moving at all
Reducing Testosterone
VPA reduced the testosterone levels in rats, which is crucial for reproductive and sexual health.
Cordyceps militaris Offset Rat Reproductive System Damage Caused by VPA
The study found that Cordyceps militaris extract helped mitigate the damage caused by VPA in several areas:
- Vesicles Weight
- The weight of vesicles was restored closer to normal levels
- Sperm Density
- The number of sperm in semen increased
- Alive Sperm Percentage
- There was an increase in the proportion of living sperm
- Sperm Forward Progression
- The ability of sperm to move straight forward improved
- Sperm Slow-Progressive Motility
- There was an increase in the proportion of sperm moving forward at a slower pace
- Sperm Non-Progressive Motility
- There was a reduction in the proportion of sperm that move in tight circles or with no forward progression
- Testosterone Levels
- Testosterone levels were elevated, helping to restore normal sexual function and health
Additional Benefits Observed
- Increase in Sexual Organ Weight
- The weight of key sexual organs, such as the testes and epididymis, showed improvement
- Improved Seminiferous Tubule Size
- The size of seminiferous tubules, where sperm is produced, was positively affected, indicating better overall reproductive health
Cordyceps militaris shows promising potential in protecting and rehabilitating reproductive health metrics damaged by sodium valproate. The study provides valuable insights into the benefits of Cordyceps militaris on sperm quality, testosterone levels, and overall reproductive organ health. While further research is needed to confirm these effects in humans, the results are encouraging for those looking into natural supplements to support male sexual health.
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Cordyceps has long been celebrated in traditional medicine for its wide range of health benefits, and modern research is beginning to validate these ancient claims. As we've explored today, Cordyceps and its key component, cordycepin, play a significant role in enhancing male sexual health at the cellular level. From increasing the sensitivity of LH receptors to boosting testosterone production and improving sperm quality, Cordyceps demonstrates remarkable potential.
The rat study we observed provides compelling evidence that Cordyceps can mitigate reproductive damage caused by harmful substances like sodium valproate. Key improvements in sexual organ weight, sperm density, and testosterone levels highlight its potential as a natural supplement for supporting reproductive health.
Using the evidence we explored today, it would appear that Cordyceps can enhance male sexual health.
Thank you for reading. Any mistakes made or missed citations in this articles are the fault of mine and mine alone.
Be your best,
Johnny
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