Therapeutic effect of spermatogonial stem cell on testicular damage caused by lead in rats.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible therapeutic effect of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) on lead-induced apoptosis and consequently infertility in adult male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six Sprague Dawley adult male rats were divided into three groups control group, lead (Pb) acetate exposed group received (20mg Pb/kg) for 3weeks, and SSCs treated group. Each group included twenty-two rats. Serum testosterone level, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD), 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17ß-HSD), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) genes expression by RT-PCR, caspase 3 expression by immunohistochemistry and testicular histological findings were tested. RESULTS: Pb acetate exposed rats showed a significant decrease in the epididymal sperm count, motility, viability, serum testosterone level and testicular expression of 3ß-HSD, 17ß-HSD and PCNA compared to the control group, while treatment with SSCs attenuated Pb acetate induced decrease for these variables. Moreover, the increasing apoptosis of germinal cells as well as the high expression of caspase-3 induced by Pb acetate was reduced by SSCs treatment. CONCLUSION: SSCs exhibited therapeutic effect on reproductive system by inhibiting Pb-induced excessive cell apoptosis.