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Yangjing Capsule (YC) extract,a traditional Chinese medicine compound,has been shown to increased testosterone production and the expression of StAR,CYP11A1,and HSD3B mRNAs and proteins.However,the molecular events behind the enhancement of testicular steroidogenesis are unknown.The nuclear receptor NUR77 is present in testicular Leydig cells,and its expression induce promoter activity of steroidogenic enzyme genes including StAR,P450c17,and HSD3B.In this study,Real-time PCR and western blot were applied to determine the mRNA and protein expression of NUR77.NUR77 knockdown were applied to explore the underlying mechanism.Transient transfections in MLTC-1 cells were applied to confirmed the effect on NUR77 promoter activity.The Results showed that YC extract significantly stimulated NUR77 production in dose-and time-dependent manners.Ad-siRNA-NUR77 treatments held back YC extracts stimulation effects on mRNA and protein expression of StAR and HSD3B and consequently inhibited the testosterone synthesis of MLTC-1 induced by YC extract.YC extract can activate the NUR77 promoter.All together,our results implicate NUR77 as a mediator of YC extract action on steroidogenic enzyme transcription in steroidogenic Leydig cells in this process.