Promotion of cathepsin L activity in newt spermatogonial apoptosis induced by prolactin.
We previously showed that prolactin (PRL) induces apoptosis in newt secondary spermatogonia and indicated that caspase activity is involved in the apoptosis. Since it was recently reported that Z-VAD-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor, blocks activity of cysteine cathepsins as well, we examined whether cathepsin is involved in the newt spermatogonial apoptosis. We found cathepsin L activity in the testis that was elevated by PRL in organ culture of testis, while E-64d, a lysosomal cysteine protease inhibitor, and Z-VAD-fmk suppressed it and chromosomal condensation. These results suggest that cathepsin L activity play a pivotal role in PRL-induced spermatogonial apoptosis.
Fujimoto
Kenta
K
Department of Materials and Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Japan.
Yamamoto
Takashi
T
Kitano
Takeshi
T
Abé
Shin-Ichi
S
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D056668:Cathepsin L; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007930:Leucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012455:Salamandridae; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014020:Tissue Extracts
D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D011388:Prolactin; D002403:Cathepsins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D056668:Cathepsin L; D007930:Leucine; C108192:aloxistatin