Low Doses of Glyphosate/Roundup Alter Blood-Testis Barrier Integrity in Juvenile Rats.

It has been postulated that glyphosate (G) or its commercial formulation Roundup (R) might lead to male fertility impairment. In this study, we investigated the possible effects of G or R treatment of juvenile male rats on blood-testis barrier function and on adult male sperm production. Pups were randomly assigned to the following groups: control group (C), receiving water; G2 and G50 groups, receiving 2 and 50 mg/kg/day G respectively; and R2 and R50 groups receiving 2 and 50 mg/kg/day R respectively. Treatments were performed orally from postnatal day (PND) 14 to 30, period of life that is essential to complete a functional blood-testis barrier. Evaluation was done on PND 31. No differences in body and testis weight were observed between groups. Testis histological analysis showed disorganized seminiferous epithelium, with apparent low cellular adhesion in treated animals. Blood-testis barrier permeability to a biotin tracer was examined. A significant increase in permeable tubules was observed in treated groups. To evaluate possible mechanisms that could explain the effects on blood-testis barrier permeability, intratesticular testosterone levels, androgen receptor expression, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the expression of intercellular junction proteins (claudin11, occludin, ZO-1, connexin43, 46, and 50 which are components of the blood-testis barrier) were examined. No modifications in the above-mentioned parameters were detected. To evaluate whether juvenile exposure to G and R could have consequences during adulthood, a set of animals of the R50 group was allowed to grow up until PND 90. Histological analysis showed that control and R50 groups had normal cellular associations and complete spermatogenesis. Also, blood-testis barrier function was recovered and testicular weight, daily sperm production, and epididymal sperm motility and morphology did not seem to be modified by juvenile treatment. In conclusion, the results presented herein show that continuous exposure to low doses of G or R alters blood-testis barrier permeability in juvenile rats. However, considering that adult animals treated during the juvenile stage showed no differences in daily sperm production compared with control animals, it is feasible to think that blood-testis barrier impairment is a reversible phenomenon. More studies are needed to determine possible damage in the reproductive function of human juvenile populations exposed to low doses of G or R.

Postnatal metformin treatment alters rat Sertoli cell proliferation and daily sperm production.

BACKGROUND: The direct correlation between Sertoli cell number and sperm production capacity highlights the importance of deciphering external factors that modify Sertoli cell proliferation. A growing body of evidence in vitro suggests that metformin, the main pharmacological agent for type 2 diabetes treatment in children, exerts anti-proliferative effects on Sertoli cells. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of metformin administration during postnatal period on Sertoli cell proliferation and on cell cycle regulators expression and to analyze the impact of this treatment on the sperm production capacity in adulthood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague Dawley rat pups were randomly divided into two groups: MET (receiving daily 200 mg/kg metformin, from Pnd3 to Pnd7 inclusive) and control (receiving vehicle). BrdU incorporation was measured to assess proliferation. Gene expression analyses were performed in Sertoli cells isolated from animals of both groups. Daily sperm production and sperm parameters were measured in adult male rats (Pnd90) that received neonatal treatment. RESULTS: MET group exhibited a significant decrease in BrdU incorporation in Sertoli cells. Concordantly, MET group showed a reduction in cyclin D1 and E2 expression and an increase in p21 expression in Sertoli cells. In addition, metformin-treated animals displayed lower values of daily sperm production on Pnd90. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These results suggest that metformin treatment may lead to a decrease in Sertoli cell proliferation, a concomitant altered expression of cell cycle regulators and ultimately, a reduction in daily sperm production in adult animals.

In vitro effects of glyphosate and Roundup on Sertoli cell physiology.

Roundup (R), a formulation that contains glyphosate (G) as the active ingredient, is a commonly used nonselective herbicide that has been proposed to affect male fertility. It is well known that an adequate Sertoli cell function is essential to maintain germ cell development. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether G and R are able to affect Sertoli cell functions, such as energy metabolism and blood-testis barrier (BTB) integrity. Sertoli cell cultures from 20-day-old rats were exposed to 10 and 100 ppm of G or R, doses which do not decrease cell viability. Neither G nor R caused impairment in lactate production or fatty acid oxidation. G and R decreased Transepithelial Electrical Resistance, which indicates the establishment of a Sertoli cell junction barrier. However, neither G nor R modified the expression of claudin11, ZO1 and occludin, proteins that constitute the BTB. Analysis of cellular distribution of claudin11 by immunofluorescence showed that G and R induced a delocalization of the signal from membrane to the cytoplasm. The results suggest that G and R could alter an important function of Sertoli cell such as BTB integrity and thus they could compromise the normal development of spermatogenesis.

II - Insulin processing in mitochondria.

Our objective was to know how insulin is processing in mitochondria; if IDE is the only participant in mitochondrial insulin degradation and the role of insulin degradation on IDE accumulation in mitoplasts. Mitochondria and its fractions were isolated as described by Greenwalt. IDE was purified and detected in immunoblot with specific antibodies. High insulin degradation was obtained through addition to rat's diet of 25 g/rat of apple and 10 g/rat of hard-boiled eggs, 3 days a week. Mitochondrial insulin degradation was assayed with 5 % TCA, insulin antibody or Sephadex G50 chromatography. Degradation was also assayed 60 min at 37 °C in mitochondrial fractions (IMS and Mx) with diet or not and without IDE. Degradation in fractions precipitated with ammonium sulfates (60-80 %) were studied after mitochondrial insulin incubation (1 ng. insulin during 15 min, at 30 °C) or with addition of 2.5 mM ATP. Supplementary diet increased insulin degradation. High insulin did not increase mitoplasts accumulation and did not decrease mitochondrial degradation. High insulin and inhibition of degradation evidence insulin competition for a putative transport system. Mitochondrial incubation with insulin increased IDE in matrix as observed in immunoblot. ATP decreased degradation in Mx and increased it in IMS. Chromatography of IMS demonstrated an ATP-dependent protease that degraded insulin, similar to described by Sitte et al. Mitochondria participate in insulin degradation and the diet increased it. High insulin did not accomplish mitochondrial decrease of degradation or its accumulation in mitoplasts. Mitochondrial incubation with insulin increased IDE in matrix. ATP suggested being a regulator of mitochondrial insulin degradation.

FSH and bFGF regulate the expression of genes involved in Sertoli cell energetic metabolism.

The purpose of this study was to investigate if FSH and bFGF regulate fatty acid (FA) metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis in Sertoli cells (SC). SC cultures obtained from 20-day-old rats were incubated with 100ng/ml FSH or 30ng/ml bFGF for 6, 12, 24 and 48h. The expression of genes involved in transport and metabolism of FA such as: fatty acid transporter CD36 (FAT/CD36), carnitine-palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1), long- and medium-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenases (LCAD, MCAD), and of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis such as: nuclear respiratory factors 1 and 2 (NRF1, NRF2) and transcription factor A (Tfam), was analyzed. FSH stimulated FAT/CD36, CPT1, MCAD, NRF1, NRF2 and Tfam mRNA levels while bFGF only stimulated CPT1 expression. A possible participation of PPARß/δ activation in the regulation of gene expression and lactate production was then evaluated. SC cultures were incubated with FSH or bFGF in the presence of the PPARß/δ antagonist GSK3787 (GSK; 20µM). bFGF stimulation of CPT1 expression and lactate production were inhibited by GSK. On the other hand, FSH effects were not inhibited by GSK indicating that FSH regulates the expression of genes involved in FA transport and metabolism and in mitochondrial biogenesis, independently of PPARß/δ activation. FA oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis as well as lactate production are essential for the energetic metabolism of the seminiferous tubule. The fact that these processes are regulated by hormones in a different way reflects the multifarious regulation of molecular mechanisms involved in Sertoli cell function.

Caracterización de sueros antirreceptores de insulina: su aplicabilidad experimental y clínica / Characterization of insulin antireceptors serum: his application experimental and clinic

Se prepararon receptores de hígado de rata por centrifugación diferencial y cromatografía en Sepharosa CL-68 (purificación aproximada 1.000veces) y se inocularon con aquellos 4 conejos. La calidad de los receptores fue controlada por marcación con ATP-Y-32P, electroforesis en poliacrilamida y autorradiografía. Se observó en curvas dosis/respuesta con insulina-125I e IGF-I125I, que el aislamiento usado no excluía el receptor de IGF-I (insulina: 36 fmoles/ml, IGF-I:3,2 fmoles/ml), por lo cual se continuó la purificación en una cromatografía de afinidad de insulina-Sepharosa y posterior marcación con 125I. El antisuero seleccionado C21 demostró una inmunoprecipitación elevada con insulina y baja con IGF-I(insulina: 62,5+4,71%, IGF-I: 24,7+3,16%). En hepatocitos aislados este antisuero no compite con la insulina por su receptor y a una dilución de 1/200 tiene poca capacidad de convertir glucosa-14C a glucógeno-14C, ya que a esa dilución asocia el 50% de los receptores presentes (0,76+0,16 ng/ml, expresado en respuesta biológica equivalente a insulina). para determinar el sitio de unión del antisuero C21 se dirigial receptor de insulina con colagenasa (que digiere específicamente la subunidad B) y se observan estas condiciones la inmunoprecipitibilidad del antisuero C21 cae dramáticamente (receptor de insulina 75,6+2,04%, receptor de insulina digerido: 14,9+1,28%). Se determinó, además, la inmonorreactividad cruzada con receptores humanos para la insulina, observándose un débil cruzamiento a alta concentración (1/75: 1,95+1,32%). El estudio demuestra que el antisueroC21 es predominantemente inmunorreactivo con el receptor de insulina, al que une por su subunidad B, induciendo una escasa respuesta biológica en hepatocitos aislados. (AU)

Caracterización de sueros antirreceptores de insulina: su aplicabilidad experimental y clínica / Characterization of insulin antireceptors serum: his application experimental and clinic

Se prepararon receptores de hígado de rata por centrifugación diferencial y cromatografía en Sepharosa CL-68 (purificación aproximada 1.000veces) y se inocularon con aquellos 4 conejos. La calidad de los receptores fue controlada por marcación con ATP-Y-32P, electroforesis en poliacrilamida y autorradiografía. Se observó en curvas dosis/respuesta con insulina-125I e IGF-I125I, que el aislamiento usado no excluía el receptor de IGF-I (insulina: 36 fmoles/ml, IGF-I:3,2 fmoles/ml), por lo cual se continuó la purificación en una cromatografía de afinidad de insulina-Sepharosa y posterior marcación con 125I. El antisuero seleccionado C21 demostró una inmunoprecipitación elevada con insulina y baja con IGF-I(insulina: 62,5+4,71%, IGF-I: 24,7+3,16%). En hepatocitos aislados este antisuero no compite con la insulina por su receptor y a una dilución de 1/200 tiene poca capacidad de convertir glucosa-14C a glucógeno-14C, ya que a esa dilución asocia el 50% de los receptores presentes (0,76+0,16 ng/ml, expresado en respuesta biológica equivalente a insulina). para determinar el sitio de unión del antisuero C21 se dirigial receptor de insulina con colagenasa (que digiere específicamente la subunidad B) y se observan estas condiciones la inmunoprecipitibilidad del antisuero C21 cae dramáticamente (receptor de insulina 75,6+2,04%, receptor de insulina digerido: 14,9+1,28%). Se determinó, además, la inmonorreactividad cruzada con receptores humanos para la insulina, observándose un débil cruzamiento a alta concentración (1/75: 1,95+1,32%). El estudio demuestra que el antisueroC21 es predominantemente inmunorreactivo con el receptor de insulina, al que une por su subunidad B, induciendo una escasa respuesta biológica en hepatocitos aislados.