Photoperiod-induced apoptosis in the male genital tract epithelia of the golden hamster.
The aim of this study was to identify some details of the changes induced by a short-day light regime (8:16 light:dark) on the male genital tract and accessory sex glands of the golden hamster Mesocricetus auratus. We principally examined the presence of apoptotic cells in the epithelium from different regions of the epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate and coagulating gland. We detected an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells in situ using the TUNEL technique in animals that were maintained for 6, 8 or 12 weeks in a short photoperiod. That those cells were indeed undergoing apoptosis was confirmed by the immunodetection of the active fragment of caspase-3. The apoptotic indices in the different tissues analysed were low, but were maintained for weeks, suggesting cell loss at a steady rate. We tried to correlate these changes with the testosterone levels in serum as well as with the oxidative stress in the tissue. On the other hand, the increase in size and number of lipofuscin granules indicated the possibility that a parallel increase in oxidative stress occurred in the tissues. The normalization in the number of apoptotic cells and lipofuscin granules in animals treated with testosterone suggests that both phenomena might be related to changes in the hormone levels.
Carballada
Rosa
R
Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
Jara
Marco
M
Esponda
Pedro
P
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D006224:Cricetinae; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D017440:Photoperiod; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D008062:Lipofuscin; D013739:Testosterone; D053148:Caspase 3