title: Acute ethanol exposure affects spermatogonial stem cell homeostasis in pre-pubertal mice.
abstract: Ethanol is a known modulator of neural stem cell development, but the consequences of ethanol toxicity on the cell fate decisions of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) is poorly understood. Using an in vivo treatment and stem cell transplantation approach, we investigated the effects of acute ethanol exposure on formation of the growing adult SSC population in neonatal and pre-pubertal mice. Treatment with a single dose of ethanol disrupted SSC homeostasis in vivo evidenced by a significant reduction (7-fold) of stem cell colonization efficiency in the testes of recipient mice following transplantation. Ethanol treatment also increased the rate of apoptosis in adult differentiating germ cells in situ. Gene expression analysis indicates that ethanol exposure has transient and long-term effects on the expression of GDNF and VEGF family molecules and supports the hypothesis that the niche microenvironment for SSCs is sensitive to ethanol toxicity during pre-pubertaland adult life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animals Sciences and Center of Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States. kylecaires@wsu.edu
authors.forename: Kyle C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Caires
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shima
authors.forename: Jeanene
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Avila
authors.forename: Derek J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: McLean
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018570:Risk Assessment; D046468:Sexual Development; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000187:drug effects; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000431:Ethanol