Publication Date:
2011-03-08
Description:
One,1-dichloro-2,2 bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene ( p , p '-DDE), the major metabolite of 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT), is a known persistent organic pollutant and male reproductive toxicant. It has antiandrogenic effect. However, the mechanism by which p , p' -DDE exposure causes male reproductive toxicity remains unknown. To elucidate the mechanism underpinning the testicular effects of p , p '-DDE, we sought to investigate apoptotic effects and mRNA expression of apoptosis-associated genes in the testis of pubertal rats, including Fas, FasL, calpain-1, cytochrome c , Bax, Bcl-w, Bak, and caspase-3, -8, -9, -12. Animals were administered with different doses of p , p '-DDE (0, 20, 60, 100 mg/kg body weight) every other day by intraperitoneal injection for 10 days. The results indicated that p , p '-DDE exposure at over 20 mg/kg body weight showed the induction of apoptotic cell death. p , p '-DDE could induce decrease in SOD and GSH-Px activity of serum in 60 mg/kg body weight group. Significant elevations in the mRNA levels of Fas, FasL, calpain-1, cytochrome c , Bax, Bak, and caspase-3, -8, -9, -12 were observed in testis of rat treated with p , p '-DDE. Taken together, these results lead us to speculate that in vivo exposure to p , p '-DDE might induce testicular apoptosis in pubertal rats through the involvement of Fas/FasL, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum-mediated pathways. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 2011.
Print ISSN:
1520-4081
Electronic ISSN:
1522-7278
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
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