Quercetin decreases steroidogenic enzyme activity, NF-κB expression, and oxidative stress in cultured Leydig cells exposed to atrazine

Mol Cell Biochem. 2013 Jan;373(1-2):19-28. doi: 10.1007/s11010-012-1471-z. Epub 2012 Oct 16.

Abstract

Quercetin has been reported to protect testicular cells from oxidative damage induced by environmental chemicals. In this study, we isolated interstitial Leydig cells (ILCs) from immature rats, set-up ILCs culture, co-treated cells with atrazine (ATZ) and quercetin (QT), evaluated toxicity, and measured the expression levels of antioxidant enzymes and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and levels of steroidogenic enzymes. ATZ decreased ILCs viability at concentrations higher than 10 μg/mL and increased reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione levels. ATZ also increased glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase and decreased superoxide dismutase-1 (sod1) and superoxide dismutase-2 (sod2) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels which were prevented by QT. The changes in the MDA levels and lactate dehydrogenase leakage induced by ATZ (50 μg/mL) were also prevented on co-treatment with QT (50 μM). Furthermore, ATZ-induced 3β- and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities and NF-κB-expressions at the mRNA and protein levels were also recovered to control value on co-treatment with QT. These data showed that QT protected against ATZ-induced ILCs toxicity by restoring the expression of NF-κB and steroidogenic activity and by preventing the oxidative stress.

MeSH terms

  • 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / genetics
  • 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / metabolism
  • 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / genetics
  • 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Atrazine / toxicity*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endocrine Disruptors / toxicity*
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / genetics
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Herbicides / toxicity
  • Leydig Cells / drug effects
  • Leydig Cells / enzymology*
  • Male
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Quercetin / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Soil Pollutants / toxicity
  • Superoxide Dismutase / genetics
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Water Pollutants / toxicity

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Endocrine Disruptors
  • Herbicides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Water Pollutants
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Quercetin
  • 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
  • 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Glutathione
  • Atrazine