title: Microcystin-LR induces autophagy and apoptosis in rat Sertoli cells in vitro.
abstract: Although microcystin-LR (MC-LR) produced by cyanobacteria has been demonstrated with strong reproductive toxicity, the mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to probe the effects of MC-LR on induction of autophagy in Sertoli cells, as well as the relationship between autophagy and apoptosis. After exposure to various concentrations of MC-LR for 24 or 48 h, cell viability and membrane integrity were significantly decreased under high MC-LR conditions (50-500 nM). The autophagosome marker protein LC3 was increased at mild MC-LR concentrations (0.5-5 nM). However, autophagosomes accumulated to their peak level under high MC-LR conditions in parallel with significantly up-regulated apoptosis. Treatment with an autophagy inhibitor (3-MA) abrogated autophagosome accumulation and apoptosis. This study demonstrated that MC-LR had toxic effects on Sertoli cells by inducing autophagy and apoptosis. The autophagosome accumulation may be involved in the apoptosis induced by MC-LR.
authors.affiliation: Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xueting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008297:Male; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins / Q000633:toxicity*; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C526109:Anxa3 protein, rat; C057862:cyanoginosin LR
keywords: 3-MA; 3-methyladenine; ANOVA; AVs; Apoptosis; Autophagosome accumulation; Autophagy; CCK-8; Cyt-C; LDH; MC-LR; Sertoli cell; TEM; analysis of variance; autophagic vacuoles; cell counting kit-8; cytochrome c; lactate dehydrogenase; microcystin-LR; transmission electron microscopy