P,p ′-DDE induces apoptosis of rat sertoli cells via a fasl-dependent pathway

Abstract

One,1-dichloro-2,2 bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (p, p ′ -DDE), the major metabolite of 2,2-bis(4-Chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT), is a known persistent organic pollutant and male reproductive toxicant. It has antiandrogenic effect. However, the mechanism by which p, p ′ -DDE exposure causes male reproductive toxicity remains unknown. In the present study, rat Sertoli cells were used to investigate the molecular mechanism involved in p, p ′ -DDE-induced toxicity in male reproductive system. The results indicated that p, p ′ -DDE exposure at over 30 M showed the induction of apoptotic cell death. p, p ′ -DDE could induce increases in FasL mRNA and protein, which could be blocked by an antioxidant agent, N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). In addition, caspase-3 and -8 were activated by p, p ′ -DDE treatment in these cells. The activation of NF- B was enhanced with the increase of p, p ′ -DDE dose. Taken together, these results suggested that exposure to p, p ′ -DDE might induce apoptosis of rat Sertoli cells through a FasL-dependent pathway. Copyright © 2009 Yuqin Shi et al.