title: 4-Nitrophenol induces activation of Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and apoptosis of the germ cells in rat testes.
abstract: The potential of 4-nitrophenol (PNP) to affect testicular function of rats was assessed by intratesticular injection (IT). The protective effects of phytosterin (PS) on PNP-induced injury were assessed. Rats were sacrificed on days 1, 3, and 7 after IT of PNP (0.1 M, 50 μl). PNP induced hemorrhage in intertubular areas and denudation of germinal epithelium. The expression of caspase-3 and sperm abnormalities were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The concentrations of testosterone in serum were significantly increased (P < 0.05) on the 1st and 3rd day. PNP induced oxidative stress in testes, which manifested increased SOD, CAT, GSH-Px activities, and increases in MDA, GSH, H2O2 concentrations (P < 0.05). The Nrf2 antioxidant pathway was activated as indicated by increased expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and GCLC mRNA (P < 0.05). Moreover, supplementation with PS resulted in an amelioration of PNP-induced oxidative damage. These results suggest that PNP induced activation of Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and apoptosis of the germ cells.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.|Laboratory of Nuclear Receptors and Cancer Research, Basic Medical Research Center, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yonghui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Meiyan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yansen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China. chunmeili@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: ChunMei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D009596:Nitrophenols; C024836:4-nitrophenol
keywords: 4-Nitrophenol; Activation; Antioxidant gene; Apoptosis; Intratesticular injection; Nrf2