Open AccessEffect of cocaine on germ cell apoptosis in rats at different ages
Author(s) -
Yang GuoSheng,
Wang Wei,
Wang YiMin,
Chen ZhaoDian,
Wang Shuo,
Fang JiaJie
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
asian journal of andrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1745-7262
pISSN - 1008-682X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2006.00191.x
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , apoptosis , prolactin , luteinizing hormone , dna fragmentation , testosterone (patch) , follicle stimulating hormone , germ cell , hormone , biology , programmed cell death , biochemistry , gene
Aim : To investigate the effect of cocaine on apoptosis and caspase‐3 activity in germ cells in male rats at different ages. Methods : Cocaine hydrochloride was given (15 mg/kg body weight s.c.) to male Sprague–Dawley rats of 3 weeks ( n = 8), 6 weeks ( n = 8) and 12 weeks ( n = 8) of age, daily for 28 days. The serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T) and estrogen (E 2 ) were assayed, and the DNA fragmentation of germ cells was determined by gel eletronphoresis. The cell cycle, apoptosis and caspase‐3 activity of germ cells were tested by flow cytometry. Results : After the 28‐day cocaine treatment, testes weight of the 3‐week‐old rats, the testes and body weights of the 6‐week‐old rats were decreased significantly compared to those of their corresponding controls ( P < 0.05). The serum level of T was decreased significantly in the 3‐week‐old and 6‐week‐old rats, and the serum level of PRL was also decreased significantly in 12‐week‐old rats compared to the controls ( P < 0.05). In all the three cocaine‐treated groups, the isolated DNA displayed a clear ladder pattern, especially in the 6‐week old rats. The number of apoptosic germ cells increased significantly in 3‐ and 6‐week‐old rats treated with cocaine ( P < 0.05). The caspase‐3 activity in all three groups increased significantly compared to the controls ( P < 0.05), especially in the 6‐week‐old rats. Conclusion : Cocaine exposure for 28 days leads to significant damage to male gonad and apoptosis elevation in testes of rats of different ages, especially in those of 6 weeks of age. The increase in caspase‐3 activity might be a key pathway related to the early stage of apoptosis as the mechanism of cocaine‐induced germ cell loss.