title: Atrazine induces transcriptional changes in marker genes associated with steroidogenesis in primary cultures of rat Leydig cells.
abstract: Reproductive toxicity of atrazine (ATZ) is well reported in mammals. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood and need to be explored. Thus, we investigate ATZ induced transcriptional changes in selected markers of steroidogenesis in primary cultures of rat interstitial Leydig cells (ILCs). Cytotoxic studies were carried out by exposing the cells to ATZ (0.5-50 μg/mL or 2.32-232 μM) for 24-72 h, whereas; the exposure period of expression studies was for 2 h. ATZ exposure of (25 and 50 μg/ml) for 48 h onwards was found to be cytotoxic in MTT (dimethylthiazol-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide salt) assay, while in NRU (neutral red uptake) assay, cytotoxicity could be recorded at 50 μg/ml exposure of 72 h only. A significant dose dependent induction in the levels of mRNA expression of genes of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR), cytochrome P45011A1, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), and other steroidogenic proteins were observed in cells exposed to ATZ. Our data suggest the applicability of these selected marker genes of steroidogenesis as an indicator of short term exposure of ATZ induced testicular toxicity in rats interstitial Leydig cells (ILCs).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Redeemer's University, Redemption City, Ogun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Abarikwu
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Farombi
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kashyap
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Pant
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001280:Atrazine / Q000633:toxicity*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000235:genetics; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007328:Insulin / Q000235:genetics; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009499:Neutral Red / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000378:metabolism; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D006540:Herbicides; D007328:Insulin; C084797:Leydig insulin-like protein; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D009499:Neutral Red; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D001280:Atrazine