Alterations of Sertoli cell activity in the long-term testicular germ cell death process induced by fetal androgen disruption

The Journal of Endocrinology
Lamia Benbrahim-TallaaMohamed Benahmed

Abstract

Fetal androgen disruption, induced by the administration of anti-androgen flutamide (0.4, 2, and 10 mg/kg day) causes a long-term apoptosis in testicular germ cells in adult male rat offspring. One of the questions raised by this observation is the role of the Sertoli cells in the adult germ cell apoptotic process. It is shown here that Sertoli cells originating from 15-day-old rats treated in utero with the anti-androgen (10 mg/kg d) did no longer protect adult germ cells against apoptosis. Indeed, untreated spermatocytes or spermatids exhibited increased (P<0.0001) active caspase-3 levels when co-cultured with Sertoli cells isolated from rat testes exposed in utero to the anti-androgen. This alteration of Sertoli cell functions was not due to modifications in the androgen signal in the adult (90-day-old) animals, since plasma testosterone and estradiol, androgen receptor expression, and androgen-targeted cell number (e.g., Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules) were not affected by the fetal androgen disruption. In contrast, this inability of Sertoli cells to protect germ cells against apoptosis could be accounted for by the potential failure of Sertoli cell functions. Indeed, adult testes exposed in utero to anti-androge...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 11, 2009·Biology of Reproduction·S Mazaud-GuittotB Le Magueresse-Battistoni
Jul 9, 2009·International Journal of Biological Sciences·Gilles-Eric SéraliniKrishna R Dronamraju
Feb 7, 2016·Médecine sciences : M/S·Claire MauduitMohamed Benahmed
Oct 20, 2010·Reproductive Toxicology·Carina LeonelliOduvaldo C M Pereira
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Apr 15, 2009·General and Comparative Endocrinology·Florencia ReyMónica Muñoz-de-Toro
Jul 10, 2019·American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism·Naoki HaradaRyoichi Yamaji
Sep 1, 2008·Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism·Nikki Py LeeC Yan Cheng
May 11, 2020·Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology·Luciana Abreu da RosaEloísa da Silveira Loss
Jun 29, 2021·Journal of Molecular Medicine : Official Organ of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Naturforscher Und Ärzte·Yuehui ZhangHåkan Billig
Apr 25, 2009·Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Obesity

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Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis