title: Studies with regard to the apoptosis of testicular germ cells in rats fed a diet enriched with polyunsaturated Fatty acids.
abstract: The essential trace element selenium and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been used for the prevention of cancer. Both nutrients enhance the apoptosis of malignant cells and provide health benefits. However, an increased dietary intake of PUFA augments the susceptibility of lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage in many cells. So far, relatively few data are available about the interaction of selenium and PUFA in testis and thus a possible effect of both dietary components on the prevention of testicular cancer or on the apoptosis of testicular germ cells. Male germ cells in the rat contain most of the testicular phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx), mainly as the mitochondrial isoform of this selenoprotein (m-PHGPx). An experiment was therefore carried out to determine the action of fish oil, a nutrient rich in PUFA, on the testicular expression of PHGPx. Because the PHGPx formation remains nearly unchanged in the animals fed the PUFA-enriched diet, we conclude that no apoptosis of testicular germ cells is induced by an increased intake of this nutrient. The intake of fish oil in the selenium-deficient animal led to a markedly altered formation of several selenium-containing proteins, including sperm nuclei glutathione peroxidase (snGPx), also designated as the nuclear form of PHGPx (n-PHGPx), and a 10-kDa selenium-containing protein.
authors.affiliation: Department Molecular Trace Element Research in the Life Sciences, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fuer Materialien und Energie, Berlin, Germany. bertelsmann@helmholtz.berlin.de
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bertelsmann
authors.forename: Dietrich
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Behne
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kyriakopoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D000080662:Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase; D051381:Rats; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D051140:Selenoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D051140:Selenoproteins; D000080662:Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase