Estrogen receptors are involved in polychlorinated biphenyl-induced apoptosis on mouse spermatocyte GC-2 cell line.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread persistent environmental contaminants which have been shown to have reproductive toxicity and to disturb spermatogenesis. But the precise mechanism is not clear. A mouse pachytene spermatocyte-derived cell line, GC-2 cells were used in the present study to investigate the toxic effect of PCBs (Aroclor 1254) and explore the underlying molecular mechanism. Results showed that Aroclor 1254 inhibited cell proliferation, caused the arrest of cells in G0/G1 phase and induced apoptosis which might be partly explained by the decreased expression of Bcl-2 and cell cycle regulator cyclin D1 together with the activation of caspase-3. Besides, the treatment of Aroclor 1254 decreased the protein expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-α while increasing that of ERβ. Then the administration of selective ERα agonist PPT partly reversed Aroclor 1254-induced alteration in Bcl-2, caspase-3 and cyclin D1 protein expression while selective ERβ agonist DPN accelerated it. These results suggest that Aroclor 1254, working through ERα and ERβ, interferes with the expression of proteins involved in the balance between cellular apoptosis and proliferation.
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; School of Public Health, NanTong University, 9 Seyuan Road, Nantong 226019, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
Jianhua
J
Qu
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
Wei
W
Liu
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
Cong
C
Huang
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
Cheng
C
Xu
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
Guizhen
G
Du
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China. Electronic address: aihuagu@njmu.edu.cn.
Aihua
A
Gu
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China. Electronic address: xrwang@njmu.edu.cn.
Xinru
X
Wang
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine) / Q000633:toxicity*; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D059585:G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011422:Propionates
D053148:Caspase 3; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D019938:Cyclin D1; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D009570:Nitriles; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C486182:2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionitrile; D011422:Propionates
Apoptosis; Aroclor 1254; Estrogen receptors; Spermatocytes