title: Apoptosis of testicular germ cells induced by exogenous glucocorticoid in rats.
abstract: The influence of exogenous glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (Dex), on testicular germ cell apoptosis was investigated in rats. The percentages of apoptotic tubules and apoptotic germ cells in the Dex-treated group of rats were about seven-fold and 10-fold higher respectively than in either the control group, or in rats treated with glucocorticoid receptor agonist (GR-A), or in rats treated with both Dex and GR-A. These results suggest that, in rats, apoptosis of testicular germ cells is mediated by glucocorticoid receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yazawa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sasagawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000819:agonists; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D003907:Dexamethasone