p,p'-DDE induces apoptosis of rat Sertoli cells via a FasL-dependent pathway.

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 muM 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-kappaB 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.