Testicular aging involves mitochondrial dysfunction as well as an increase in UCP2 levels and proton leak.
To address the possibility that mitochondria are involved in the age-related loss of testicular function, we characterized mitochondrial bioenergetics in rat testis. A peak of mitochondrial functionality was detected in adult animals, with a decrease in both young and older animals. In the latter group a decrease in mitochondrial function was matched with an increase in proton leak and expression and activity of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), suggesting that proton leak may be involved in managing age-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction.
Amaral
Sandra
S
Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
Mota
Paula
P
Rodrigues
Ana Sofia
AS
Martins
Luís
L
Oliveira
Paulo J
PJ
Ramalho-Santos
João
J
D000818:Animals; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011522:Protons; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2
D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D011522:Protons; C000604391:Ucp2 protein, rat; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2