Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate activates the apoptosis Caspase pathway in rat Leydig cells in vitro.
- Author:
Wei-Guang WU
1
;
Ya-Juan TANG
;
Zhao-Ling SUN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Animals; Apoptosis; drug effects; Caspase 3; metabolism; Caspase 9; metabolism; Diethylhexyl Phthalate; toxicity; Leydig Cells; drug effects; metabolism; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- From: National Journal of Andrology 2013;19(8):683-688
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on the expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 genes in rat Leydig cells and the apoptosis of the cells in vitro.
METHODSLeydig cells were isolated from male SD rats, primarily cultured and treated with DEHP at a low (10 nmol/L), a medium (50 nmol/L) and a high dose (100 nmol/L) for 24 hours. Then the mRNA expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 genes in the Leydig cells were detected by real time PCR, their protein expressions determined by Western blot, and the apoptosis of the Leydig cells measured by flow cytometry.
RESULTSCompared with the DMSO control group, the low-, medium- and high-dose DEHP groups showed significantly upregulated expressions of Caspase-3 mRNA (1.69 +/- 0.38 vs 3.82 +/- 0.39, 6.91 +/- 0.40 and 15.47 +/- 0.40, P < 0.05), Caspase-3 protein (0.18 +/- 0.0.09 vs 0.32 +/- 0.10, 0.61 +/- 0.08 and 0.89 +/- 0.09, P < 0.05), Caspase-9 mRNA (2.24 +/- 0.41 vs 5.16 +/- 0.43, 9.61 +/- 0.45 and 19.22 +/- 0.43, P < 0.05) and Caspase-9 protein (0.26 +/- 0.07 vs 0.40 +/- 0.08, 0.68 +/- 0.09 and 0.96 +/- 0.08, P < 0.05), as well as increased apoptosis rate of Leydig cells (4.36 +/- 1.11 vs 7.52 +/- 1.09, 12.72 +/- 1.10 and 24.59 +/- 1.11, P < 0.05), all in a dose-dependent manner.
CONCLUSIONDEHP can induce the apoptosis of rat Leydig cells by activating the apoptosis Caspase pathway, and consequently affect the function of Leydig cells.
