Exogenous oestradiol benzoate induces male mice azoospermia through modulation of oxidative stress and testicular metabolic cooperation

Mol Med Rep. 2019 Jun;19(6):4955-4963. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10169. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Abstract

In most cases, exogenous oestradiol benzoate (EB) inhibits spermatogenesis, however, the mechanism underlying this process has not been fully elucidated. The present study investigated the effect of EB on redox equilibrium and glycometabolism in mouse testes. Male Kunming mice were divided into 3 groups and injected with 0, 5 and 10 mg/kg EB, respectively. Histological analysis revealed no sperm and far fewer spermatogenic cells in the testes of EB‑treated mice. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy revealed that mitochondria in Sertoli cells were transformed to vacuoles with irregular cristae in the EB‑treated group. EB also significantly decreased the activities and mRNA expression of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase and increased the activity of nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide concentration in the testes compared with the control. These results indicated that oxidative damage was caused by EB treatment. With regard to glycometabolism, ATP content and activities of hexokinase and pyruvate kinase were significantly reduced in the EB‑treated group. Although glucose and pyruvate concentrations were significantly increased by EB treatment, levels of lactate, the main energy source of spermatogenic cells, were unchanged. Monocarboxylate transporter 2 (MCT2) and MCT4, which are responsible for lactate transportation, were downregulated by EB. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that azoospermia induced by EB in male mice was associated with oxidative damage and the disorder of testicular metabolic cooperation.

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Azoospermia / chemically induced
  • Azoospermia / pathology*
  • Azoospermia / veterinary
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Estradiol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Glucose Transporter Type 3 / genetics
  • Glucose Transporter Type 3 / metabolism
  • Hexokinase / genetics
  • Hexokinase / metabolism
  • Male
  • Metabolome / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / genetics
  • Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / metabolism
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Sertoli Cells / ultrastructure
  • Spermatogenesis / drug effects
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Testis / drug effects*
  • Testis / metabolism
  • Testis / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Glucose Transporter Type 3
  • Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Slc16a4 protein, mouse
  • Slc16a7 protein, mouse
  • Slc2a3 protein, mouse
  • estradiol 3-benzoate
  • Estradiol
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Hexokinase
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases