Open AccessCaspase‐3 activation is required for corticoster one induced rat Leydig cell apoptosis
Author(s) -
You HaiYan,
Gao HuiBao
Publication year - 2005
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.1745-7262.2005.036_1_1.x
Subject(s) - corticosterone , apoptosis , leydig cell , endocrinology , caspase 3 , caspase , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , programmed cell death , biology , hormone , genetics , luteinizing hormone
Objective: Study on caspase‐3 expression and its activation in CORT‐mediated rat Leydig cell apoptosis. Methods: Caspase‐3 protein activity, content and the timing of the onset of caspase‐3 cleavage in relationship to CORT administration in rats was studied by Western blot. The timing of the onset of caspase‐3 activity in Leydig cell was measured by the fluorescence. Results: Low molecular weight DNA fragments that are characteristic of apoptosis were evident in Leydig cells by 12 h of exposure to 100 nmol/L CORT in vitro and it was more pronounced at 24 h. Western blot analysis revealed that procaspase‐3 was low in untreated Leydig cells and increased by 6 h of CORT administration. By 12 h, however, procaspase‐3 was significantly reduced and the cleaved, active caspase‐3 forms appeared and increased through 24 h. In the presence of a specific caspase inhibitor, Ac‐DEVD‐CHO, Leydig cell apoptosis was suppressed, corroborating the hypothesis that caspase‐3 is involved in CORT‐mediated cell death. Conclusion: Caspase‐3 was implicated in CORT‐mediated rat Leydig cell apoptosis.