Stimulation and Scavestrogen-Induced Inhibition of Reactive Oxygen Species Generated by Rat Sertoli Cells

Abstract

The ability of Sertoli cells harvested from 18-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) occurs under unstimulated and stimulated conditions. Thus, the generation of ROS and its regulation by stimulating and inhibiting compounds was determined as a lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence reaction. According to the data, ROS generation was influenced by different cell preparation conditions--stimulating substances such as PMA, FMLP, C5a, A23187, and scavestrogens characterized by antioxidant, radical-scavenging properties. The mechanical homogenization during cell preparation procedures leads to an increase of ROS generation. ROS generation of Sertoli cells was followed by elected substances in the following rank order of efficacy: PMA > FMLP > or = C5a > Ca-ionophore A23187. The registered inhibiting effects of the scavestrogens J811 and J861 were significant. The measured CL counts decreased at 72 and 77%, respectively, of control experiments done without scavestrogens. The generation of reactive oxygen species in Sertoli cells and especially the increase in oxygen free radicals and their effects on cellular structures of spermatids are directly involved in inducing morphological alterations. Sertoli cells play an important role in spermatogenesis. The measurements of ROS may have clinical relevance in the evaluation of infertility.

Catalase in testes and epididymidis of wistar rats fed zinc deficient diet

“…Oxidative stress has been suggested to be an early effect of zinc deficiency rather than a simple reflection of zinc deficiency-induced tissue pathology[3]. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) or free oxygen radical (FOR) are normally generated by Sertoli cells that cause alteration in cellular structures and induces morphological changes in spermatids during spermiogenesis[4] and controlled amount of ROS is essential for capacitation and acrosome reaction[5]. In fact, analysis of superoxide radical generated by rat epididymal spermatozoa has revealed a two component process involving leakage from sperm mitochondria at complex I and II and a plasma membrane NAD(P)H oxidoreductase whose activity is regulated by zinc[67].…”