title: Octylphenol induces apoptosis in cultured rat Sertoli cells.
abstract: In this study, the effects of 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) were examined on the viability of rat cultured Sertoli cells using the MTT assay and OP-induced apoptosis was detected by transmission electron microscope (TEM), flow cytometric analysis and Hoechst staining. In addition, RT-PCR was used to analyze the levels of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA. Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 protein expressions were determined by Western blot analysis. Sertoli cells were treated with OP from 30 to 60microM for 6-24h. Decreased viability of Sertoli cells and increased apoptosis occurred in a concentration- and a time-dependent manner. The expression of Bcl-2 was down-regulated, while the expression of Bax up-regulated. OP also down-regulated the expression of 32kDa procaspase-3, which was cleaved to generate active subunit (17kDa). These results suggest that OP may induce Sertoli cell apoptosis by regulation of Bcl-2/Bax and caspase-3 activation.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Lunbiao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Jianfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Xinru
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: C494828:Bax protein, rat; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010636:Phenols; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; C105260:4-tert-octylphenol