title: Induction of apoptosis by 25-hydroxycholesterol in adult rat Leydig cells: protective effect of 17beta-estradiol.
abstract: Testicular macrophages can convert cholesterol into 25-hydroxycholesterol which strongly stimulates Leydig cell testosterone production. We demonstrated that 25-hydroxycholesterol reduced cholesterol biosynthesis in adult rat Leydig cells. This oxysterol can also be cytotoxic. As hydroxylated cholesterol can induce apoptosis in various cells, we investigated cell death produced by 25-hydroxycholesterol. Apoptosis was characterized by TUNEL assay and by DAPI test. Addition of 25-hydroxycholesterol, during 24h, induced a dose dependent increase of apoptosis. This effect was reduced by a treatment with a caspase-3 inhibitor (Ac-DEVD-CHO). 25-Hydroxycholesterol is known to stimulate testosterone production, but an increase of intracellular or culture medium testosterone level does not modify significantly the percentage of apoptotic cells. In contrast, addition of 17beta-estradiol (2 nM) induced a decrease of apoptotic cells. These data suggested that this oxysterol can be used by rat Leydig cells in culture for sterol metabolism, but also induces apoptosis which could be inhibited by 17beta-estradiol.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Laboratory EA 2608-USC INRA 2006, IBFA, University of Caen, Esplanade de la Paix, 14302 Caen Cedex, France. C.travert@iutcaen.unicaen.fr
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Travert
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carreau
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le Goff
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006888:Hydroxycholesterols; D009842:Oligopeptides; C099158:acetyl-aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartal; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; C007997:25-hydroxycholesterol; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C477269:3 beta-hydroxy-delta 5-steroid dehydrogenase, rat; D053148:Caspase 3