Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase mRNA expression in the rat testis after surgical cryptorchidism and efferent duct ligation.

The testis is known to be highly sensitive to a number of physical stresses. Previous investigations suggest that oxidative stress may be an important mediator of testicular injury. The ability of the testis to manage oxidative stress may be limited by enzymatic clearance of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To evaluate the ability of the testis to withstand the common pathologic conditions of cryptorchidism and obstruction, we measured mRNA levels of testicular antioxidant enzymes. Prepubertal rats were rendered unilaterally cryptorchid and 40 days after the procedure, cryptorchid, contralateral and control (sham) testes were harvested for RNA extraction. Adult rats were subjected to unilateral efferent duct ligation and the obstructed testes harvested 1 to 28 days after the procedure. Antioxidant enzyme mRNA expression was assessed by Northern blot analysis using 32P-labeled DNA probes for classical cellular glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX), Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. In both cryptorchid and contralateral testes, the germ cell-specific 0.9 kb SOD and PHGPX mRNA transcript levels were significantly decreased compared to control testes (p < 0.05). Similarly, after efferent duct ligation, the 0.9 kb SOD and PHGPX mRNA transcript levels also decreased compared to control testes (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the overall decline in testicular mRNA transcript levels after efferent duct ligation and cryptorchidism is primarily due to germ cell depletion. Reduced levels of antioxidant enzyme mRNAs in cryptorchid testes have been documented. Further experiments may elucidate the role of increased oxidative stress associated with decreased antioxidants in cryptorchidism. It remains to be determined whether oxidative stress has a causative role in the abnormal spermatogenesis and tumorigenesis associated with cryptorchidism.