[Hypobaric hypoxia increases the expression of death receptor 5 and inhibits that of FLICE-like inhibitory protein in the rat testis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of hypobaric hypoxia on the expressions of death receptor 5 (DR5) and cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) and the distribution of c-FLIP in the rat testis.


METHODS
Forty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups of equal number: normoxia control, 3 d hypoxia, 15 d hypoxia and 30 d hypoxia. The control rats were raised at 300 m above the sea level, while the latter three groups of rats in a hypobaric chamber at a simulated altitude of 4000 m for 5, 15 and 30 days, respectively. Then the expressions of DR5 and c-FLIP were detected by immunoblotting and the distribution of c-FLIP in the testis observed by immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
The expressions of DR5 were 2.04 +/- 0.11, 1.97 +/- 0.12 and 2.34 +/- 0.11 in the 3 d, 15 d and 30 d hypoxia groups, respectively, significantly higher than 1.78 +/- 0.09 in the normoxia group (P < 0.05). The expressions of c-FLIP were 0.87 +/- 0.03 and 0.74 +/- 0.07 in the 15 d and 30 d hypoxia groups, respectively, significantly lower than 1.03 +/- 0.02 in the normoxia group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Simulated hypobaric hypoxia at 4000 m above the sea level increased the expression of DR5 and inhibited that of c-FLIP in the rat testis.
Section of Pathophysiology and Highland Physiology, Department of High-Altitude Military Medicine/Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for High-Altitude Medicine, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. yinjun-a@163.com
Jun
J
Yin
Fu-Yu
FY
Liu
Yu-Qi
YQ
Gao
Wei-Gong
WG
Liao
D000818:Animals; D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
D053446:CASP8 and FADD-Like Apoptosis Regulating Protein; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand