Elumalai Perumal, Krishnamoorthy Gunasekaran, Selvakumar Kandaswamy, Arunkumar Ramachandran, Venkataraman Prabhu, Arunakaran Jagadeesan
Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM. Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, 600 113, India.
Reprod Toxicol. 2009 Jan;27(1):41-5. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2008.11.053. Epub 2008 Nov 24.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous and persistent environmental contaminants that disturb normal endocrine functions, including gonadal functions in humans and mammals. PCBs (Aroclor 1254) - induced toxic manifestations are associated with the production of free radicals. Lycopene belongs to the group of natural carotenoids, which are found in many fruits, vegetables and other green plants. Lycopene, the most potent antioxidant protects against oxidative damage. The present study was conducted to elucidate the protective role of lycopene against Aroclor 1254-induced changes in Leydig cellular steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein, cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage (P450 scc) enzyme expression and 3beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) activity. The rats were divided into four groups. Each group consists of six animals. Group I rats were administered with corn oil intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 30 days. Group II rats were treated with Aroclor 1254 (i.p.) 2mgkg(-1)body weight (bwt)day(-1) for 30 days. Group III rats were treated with Aroclor 1254 (i.p.) 2mgkg(-1)bwtday(-1) along with simultaneous supplementation of lycopene 4mgkg(-1)bwtday(-1) (gavage) for 30 days. Group IV rats administered with lycopene alone at the dose of 4mgkg(-1)bwt day(-1) (gavage) for 30 days. After 24h of the last treatment, animals were decapitated, blood was collected and serum testosterone level was estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Testes were removed and Leydig cells were isolated in aseptic condition. StAR protein, cytochrome P450 scc enzyme expression were studied by Western blot analysis and 3beta-HSD activity was estimated spectrophotometrically. Aroclor 1254 treatment significantly reduced the serum testosterone level. Simultaneous supplementation of lycopene maintained the serum testosterone to near normal. Aroclor 1254 exposure decreased Leydig cellular StAR protein, cytochrome P450 scc enzyme expression and activity of 3beta-HSD. However, simultaneous supplementation of lycopene improved Leydig cellular StAR protein, cytochrome P450 scc expression and activity of 3beta-HSD. These results suggested that lycopene have ameliorative role against Aroclor 1254 induced Leydig cell dysfunction.
多氯联苯（PCBs）是普遍存在且持久的环境污染物，会干扰正常的内分泌功能，包括人类和哺乳动物的性腺功能。多氯联苯（Aroclor 1254）诱导的毒性表现与自由基的产生有关。番茄红素属于天然类胡萝卜素，存在于许多水果、蔬菜和其他绿色植物中。番茄红素是最有效的抗氧化剂，可防止氧化损伤。本研究旨在阐明番茄红素对Aroclor 1254诱导的睾丸间质细胞类固醇生成急性调节（StAR）蛋白、细胞色素P450侧链裂解酶（P450 scc）表达及3β-羟基类固醇脱氢酶（3β-HSD）活性变化的保护作用。将大鼠分为四组。每组有六只动物。第一组大鼠腹腔注射玉米油30天。第二组大鼠以2mg/kg体重（bwt）/天的剂量腹腔注射Aroclor 1254 30天。第三组大鼠以2mg/kg bw/天的剂量腹腔注射Aroclor 1254，同时以4mg/kg bw/天的剂量灌胃补充番茄红素30天。第四组大鼠单独以4mg/kg bwt/天的剂量灌胃给予番茄红素30天。在最后一次处理24小时后，将动物断头，采集血液，通过放射免疫分析（RIA）测定血清睾酮水平。取出睾丸，在无菌条件下分离睾丸间质细胞。通过蛋白质免疫印迹分析研究StAR蛋白、细胞色素P450 scc酶的表达，并通过分光光度法测定3β-HSD活性。Aroclor 1254处理显著降低了血清睾酮水平。同时补充番茄红素可使血清睾酮维持在接近正常水平。Aroclor 1254暴露降低了睾丸间质细胞的StAR蛋白、细胞色素P450 scc酶表达及3β-HSD活性。然而，同时补充番茄红素可改善睾丸间质细胞的StAR蛋白、细胞色素P450 scc表达及3β-HSD活性。这些结果表明，番茄红素对Aroclor 1254诱导的睾丸间质细胞功能障碍具有改善作用。
