Cholesterol accumulation, lipid droplet formation, and steroid production in Leydig cells: Role of translocator protein (18‐kDa)

Abstract

Cholesterol import into the mitochondria of steroid‐producing cells is the rate‐determining step in steroidogenesis. Numerous studies have provided evidence that the cholesterol‐binding translocator protein (18 kDa TSPO) plays an important role in cholesterol translocation into mitochondria and that it also might act on cholesterol homeostasis. Several TSPO‐specific ligands have been shown to increase steroid production in vitro and in vivo.