title: Cadmium suppresses the proliferation of piglet Sertoli cells and causes their DNA damage, cell apoptosis and aberrant ultrastructure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Very little information is known about the toxic effects of cadmium on somatic cells in mammalian testis. The objective of this study is to explore the toxicity of cadmium on piglet Sertoli cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sertoli cells were isolated from piglet testes using a two-step enzyme digestion and followed by differential plating. Piglet Sertoli cells were identified by oil red O staining and Fas ligand (FasL) expression as assayed by immunocytochemistry and expression of transferrin and androgen binding protein by RT-PCR. Sertoli cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum in the absence or presence of various concentrations of cadmium chloride, or treatment with p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190 and with cadmium chloride exposure. Apoptotic cells in seminiferous tubules of piglets were also performed using TUNEL assay in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cadmium chloride inhibited the proliferation of Piglet Sertoli cells as shown by MTT assay, and it increased malondialdehyde (MDA) but reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. Inhibitor SB202190 alleviated the proliferation inhibition of cadmium on piglet Sertoli cells. Comet assay revealed that cadmium chloride caused DNA damage of Piglet Sertoli cells and resulted in cell apoptosis as assayed by flow cytometry. The in vivo study confirmed that cadmium induced cell apoptosis in seminiferous tubules of piglets. Transmission electronic microscopy showed abnormal and apoptotic ultrastructure in Piglet Sertoli cells treated with cadmium chloride compared to the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  cadmium has obvious adverse effects on the proliferation of piglet Sertoli cells and causes their DNA damage, cell apoptosis, and aberrant morphology. This study thus offers novel insights into the toxicology of cadmium on male reproduction.
authors: College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, PR China.
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Zhang
authors: Zuping
authors: Z
authors: He
authors: Lixin
authors: L
authors: Wen
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Wu
authors: Liyun
authors: L
authors: Yuan
authors: Yin
authors: Y
authors: Lu
authors: Chengzhi
authors: C
authors: Guo
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Zhu
authors: Sijun
authors: S
authors: Deng
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D002104:Cadmium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003603:Cytotoxins; D004798:Enzymes; D002104:Cadmium