Testicular induced corticosterone synthesis in male rats under fasting stress

•Corticosterone in fasting adult male rats increased in the testis, but reduced testicular testosterone and blood Testosterone levels.•The enzymatic activities of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, mediating the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone, decreased in the fasted-rat testes.•It can be considered that testosterone synthesis involved in cell proliferation is suppressed due to lack of energy during fasting.•11β-hydroxylase enzyme activity was induced and corticosterone synthesis is increased to cope with the fasting stress.