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Testicular aging involves mitochondrial dysfunction as well as an increase in UCP2 levels and proton leak
Author(s) -
Amaral Sandra,
Mota Paula,
Rodrigues Ana Sofia,
Martins Luís,
Oliveira Paulo J.,
Ramalho-Santos João
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2008.11.020
Subject(s) - bioenergetics , mitochondrion , leak , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , endocrinology , function (biology) , environmental engineering , engineering
To address the possibility that mitochondria are involved in the age‐related loss of testicular function, we characterized mitochondrial bioenergetics in rat testis. A peak of mitochondrial functionality was detected in adult animals, with a decrease in both young and older animals. In the latter group a decrease in mitochondrial function was matched with an increase in proton leak and expression and activity of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), suggesting that proton leak may be involved in managing age‐dependent mitochondrial dysfunction.