Calpain Inhibitors Prevent p38 MAPK Activation and Germ Cell Apoptosis After Heat Stress in Pubertal Rat Testes

Lizama C.; Lagos, CF; Lagos-Cabre R.; Cantuarias L; Rivera, F; Huenchuñir P; Perez-Acle, T; Carrion, F; Moreno, RD

Abstract

Testicular injuries like torsion or cryptorchidism can cause massive germ cell death, which could have great impact on male reproductive health. In addition, it has been proposed that modern life style, in the form of underwear or sedentary work position, could increase the testicular temperature, induce germ cell apoptosis, reduce spermatozoa quality and promote male infertility. In this work we showed that a heat stress stimulus induced massive germ cells apoptosis, which was associated with p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation along with an increase in the levels of mRNA encoding calpain 2. Synthetic calpain inhibitors prevented heat stress-induced germ cell apoptosis through inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Thus, our results indicate that the blockage of calpains suppresses p38 MAPK phosphorylation, and identifies calpain activation (most likely calpain 2) as an early event in heat stress-induced male germ cell apoptosis. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Más información

Título según WOS: Calpain Inhibitors Prevent p38 MAPK Activation and Germ Cell Apoptosis After Heat Stress in Pubertal Rat Testes
Título según SCOPUS: Calpain inhibitors prevent p38 MAPK activation and germ cell apoptosis after heat stress in pubertal rat testes
Título de la Revista: Journal of Cellular Physiology
Volumen: 221
Número: 2
Editorial: Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Fecha de publicación: 2009
Página de inicio: 296
Página final: 305
Idioma: eng
URL: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/jcp.21868
DOI:

10.1002/jcp.21868

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS