title: Dexamethasone effects on Bax expression in the mouse testicular germ cells.
abstract: Exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs) leads to numerous changes in various biological systems including the reproductive system. The aim of the present study was to find out whether dexamethasone (Dex), a widely used GC, would influence the apoptosis and expression of Bax, an important proapoptotic protein, in the mouse testicular germ cells. Experimental groups of 8 male NMRI mice received one of the following treatments daily for 7 days: 4, 7 and 10 mg/kg Dex. Control groups were treated with equivalent volumes of saline. Experimental and control animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last injection. Immunohistochemical procedure was used to evaluation of Bax expression and the deoxyuridine nick-end labeling (TUNEL) was applied to assessment of the apoptotic germ cells. Bax expression was upregulated mainly at stages VII-VIII of spermatogenic cycle (p<0.05) in experimental groups. Apoptotic index was significantly increased in 7 and 10 mg/kg Dex treated mice (p<0.05). It appears that GCs such as Dex could induce apoptosis through the expression of proapoptotic proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundi-Shapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz - Iran.
authors.forename: Hashemitabar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.forename: Orazizadeh
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.forename: Khorsandi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Layasadat
authors.forename: Albughobeish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naeim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D003907:Dexamethasone