title: Bis(4,7-dimethyl and 5-dinitro-1,10-phenanthroline) sulfato-oxovanadium(IV)-mediated in vivo male germ cell apoptosis.
abstract: Oxovanadium(IV) [VO] complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline are a new class of potent apoptosis-inducing cytotoxic agents against human testicular cancer cells in vitro. The present study investigated the in vivo ability of four(bis)-chelated 1,10-phenanthroline [phen] complexes of sulfato-oxovanadium(IV)-VO(phen)(2), VO(Cl-phen)(2), VO(Me(2)-phen)(2) and VO(NO(2)-phen)(2)-with and without substitutions, to induce testicular germ cell apoptosis. Male germ cell loss in mice was measured by determining the epididymal sperm count, testicular weight and histological evaluation of the testes. Repetitive intratesticular injection (7.5 mg kg(-1) testis(-1)) of bis-chelated 1,10-phenanthroline complexes of oxovanadium(IV) with 4,7-dimethyl [VO(Me(2)-phen)(2)] and 5-dinitro [VO(NO(2)-phen)(2)] substitution led to decreased sperm counts and reduced testicular weights. Histopathological examination of testicular sections from VO(Me(2)-phen)(2)- and VO(NO(2)-phen)(2)-treated mice revealed a marked inhibition of spermatogenesis and preferential loss of maturing, as well as elongated spermatids. In situ evaluation of seminiferous tubule cross-sections by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated FITC-deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling (TUNEL) and laser scanning confocal microscopy showed characteristic apoptotic germ cells delineating the periphery of the seminiferous tubules. The ability of bis-chelated 4,7-dimethyl- and 5-dinitro-substituted 1,10-phenanthroline complexes of oxovanadium(IV) to induce germ cell apoptosis in vivo may have potential utility in the treatment of human testicular germ cell tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Biology, Parker Hughes Institute, St. Paul, MN 55113, USA. odcruz@ih.org
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: D'Cruz
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Uckun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C411475:bis(4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)sulfatooxovanadium(IV); C439869:bis(5-dinitro-1,10-phenanthroline)sulfatooxovanadium(IV)