Citrinin reduces testosterone secretion by inducing apoptosis in rat Leydig cells

► CTN dose-dependently reduce secreted testosterone in primary culture Leydig cell. ► PS changes and nuclei fragmentation after cell exposure to CTN were indicators of apoptosis. ► CTN caused a dose-dependent increase in p53, caspase-9, and caspase-3 expression. ► CTN decreased P450scc, 3β-HSD-1 and StAR expressions in Leydig cells.