title: [Inhibitory effect of dutasteride on the expressions of epididymal Claudin1 and β-catenin in male rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the molecular mechanism of dutasteride inhibiting fertility by studying its effects on the expressions of the epididymal epithelial junction proteins Claudin1 and β-catenin in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen 3-month-old SD male rats were equally divided into an experimental and a negative control group to be treated intragastrically with dutasteride at 40 mg/kg per day and the same dose of solvent, respectively, for 14 consecutive days. Then, the sperm motility and morphology of the rats were detected by computer-assisted sperm analysis, the serum levels of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) measured by ELISA, changes in the tight junction of epididymal cells observed under the transmission electron microscope, the protein and gene expressions of Claudin1 and β-catenin determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, and the conception rate of the mated female rats calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dutasteride significantly suppressed the serum DHT level, sperm motility, and fertility of the rats (P <0.05). Interspaces between epididymal epithelial cell tight junctions were observed, the volume of epididymal fluid obviously increased, and the expressions of Claudin1 and β-catenin gene and protein remarkably downregulated in the experimental rats (P <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dutasteride can significantly inhibit the fertility of male rats by reducing the serum DHT level, suppressing Claudin1 and β-catenin expressions, and damaging epididymal epithelial cell junctions.
authors.forename: Shu-wu
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Li-juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Xian-ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jie-yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Guo-ting
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ji-hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Xiang-jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001378:Azasteroids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D062445:Claudin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood; D000068538:Dutasteride; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D064804:Urological Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001378:Azasteroids; D062445:Claudin-1; D064804:Urological Agents; D051176:beta Catenin; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D000068538:Dutasteride