Identification of male germ cells undergoing apoptosis in adult rats
The possible role of apoptosis in spontaneous or induced germ cell death was investigated by treating adult male rats with either a GnRH antagonist (112.5 μg kg −1 day −1 for 14 days) or methoxyacetic acid (650 μg kg −1 ; single dose) or sham-treated with either of the vehicles ( n = 3 per group). T...
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Published in | Journal of reproduction & fertility Vol. 105; no. 1; pp. 25 - 33 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
England
Society for Reproduction and Fertility
01.09.1995
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The possible role of apoptosis in spontaneous or induced germ cell death was investigated by treating adult male rats with
either a GnRH antagonist (112.5 μg kg −1 day −1 for 14 days) or methoxyacetic acid (650 μg kg −1 ; single dose) or sham-treated with either of the vehicles ( n = 3 per group). The antagonist virtually abolished gonadotrophin secretion, while methoxyacetic acid reduced serum testosterone
concentrations and slightly increased those of FSH (neither significantly). Bands of low molecular mass characteristic of
apoptotically degraded DNA were detected by electrophoresis in both treatment groups but not in the controls. Sectioned, Carnoy-fixed
testes were screened for degenerating cells with periodic acid–Schiff's base and haemalaun or examined for apoptotic cells
using a modified in situ end-labelling procedure. Periodic acid–Schiff's-stained dying cells were found in low numbers in control animals with a distribution
and frequency that matched that of apoptotic cells. Degenerating germ cells identified by histology were present at certain
stages of spermatogenesis after 2 weeks of antagonist treatment. A comparison of their distribution with that of end-labelled
cells identified the cell death as apoptotic. Methoxyacetic acid caused a massive depletion of spermatocytes at stages IX-II,
which was also found to be apoptotic. It is concluded that spontaneous germ cell death in adult rats is apoptotic and that
both gonadotrophin ablation and administration of methoxyacetic acid can cause apoptosis in the germ cells of adult male rats,
but via different routes. |
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ISSN: | 1470-1626 0022-4251 1741-7899 |
DOI: | 10.1530/jrf.0.1050025 |