title: [CMTM2 antagonizes cyclophosphamide-induced reproductive toxicity and regulates StAR expression in a transgenic mouse model].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of CMTM2 on cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced reproductive toxicity and the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein in the transgenic mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty CMTM2 transgenic mice were equally divided into a CMTM2 + CP and a CMTM2 + NS group, the former intraperitoneally injected with CP at 50 mg per kg per d, while the latter with the equivalent dose of normal saline, both for 7 days. Another 20 wild C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to a WT + CP and a WT + NS group, treated the same way above. After 30 days, all the mice were sacrificed and their epididymides and testes removed for measurement of the serum testosterone level by radioimmunoassay, determination of sperm concentration and motility by light microscopy and detection of the expression of StAR by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of serum testosterone, sperm concentration and sperm motility were significantly decreased in the CMTM2 + CP group as compared with the CMTM2 + NS group ([42.98 +/- 3.25] nmol/L vs [46.74 +/- 3.38] nmol/L, [16.89 +/- 1.17 ] x 10(6)/ml vs [24.68 +/- 0.95 ] x 10(6)/ml, [72.75 +/- 1.25]% vs [85.14 +/- 1.12]%, P < 0.05), but remarkably less than in the WT + CP group ([37.97 +/- 4.17] nmol/L, [12.75 +/- 1.02] x 10(6)/ml, [50.52 +/- 1.37] %) (P < 0.05). However, the expression of StAR was significantly higher in the CMTM2 + CP than in the WT + CP group (1.16 +/- 0.07 vs 0.69 +/- 0.08, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CMTM2 antagonizes cyclophosphamide-induced reproductive toxicity via regulating the expression of StAR, and hence plays a protective role in the reproductive system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China. liuzhenh@126.com
authors.forename: Zhen-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yun-Bei
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xiao-Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ye-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Yong-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Guo-Xi
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000633:toxicity*; D062792:MARVEL Domain-Containing Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D062792:MARVEL Domain-Containing Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D003520:Cyclophosphamide