title: Carnitine-mediated antioxidant enzyme activity and Bcl2 expression involves peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α in mouse testis.
abstract: The protective effects of carnitine have been attributed to inhibition of apoptosis, alleviating oxidative stress and DNA repair mechanism by decreasing oxidative radicles. Carnitine also increases mitochondrial biogenesis via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC1α). The role of carnitine in testicular PGC1α expression has not been documented. We hypothesised that the effects of carnitine as an antioxidant, inhibitor of apoptosis and controller of steroidogenesis in mouse testis may involve PGC1α as a regulator. The present study was designed to evaluate the localisation of PGC1α and the effects of carnitine treatment on the expression of PGC1α, Bcl2 and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) in mouse testis and serum testosterone concentrations. PGC1α was primarily immunolocalised to the Leydig cells and primary spermatocytes. Western blot analysis showed that carnitine (50mgkg-1and 100mgkg-1for 7 days) significantly increased PGC1α and Bcl2 expression in the testis in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, carnitine treatment significantly increased antioxidant enzyme (CAT, SOD and GPx) levels. The carnitine-induced changes in PGC1α in the testis were significantly correlated with changes in serum testosterone concentrations, as well as with changes in Bcl2 expression and antioxidant enzyme activity in the testis, as evaluated by electrophoresis. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that carnitine treatment of mice increases PGC1α levels in the testis, which may, in turn, regulate steroidogenesis by increasing expression of Bcl2 and antioxidant enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aziawl 796004, Mizoram, India.
authors.forename: Vikas Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Varanasi, India.
authors.forename: Rachna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Varanasi, India.
authors.forename: Amitabh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krishna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000819:agonists / Q000097:blood; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014157:Transcription Factors; C111264:peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1; C052617:Bcl2 protein, mouse; D013739:Testosterone; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D002331:Carnitine