Plin4 exacerbates cadmium-decreased testosterone level via inducing ferroptosis in testicular Leydig cells.

ABSTRACT: Strong evidence indicates that environmental stressors are the risk factors for male testosterone deficiency (TD). However, the mechanisms of environmental stress-induced TD remain unclear. Based on our all-cause male reproductive cohort, we found that serum ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) levels were elevated in TD donors. Then, we explored the role and mechanism of ferroptosis in environmental stress-reduced testosterone levels through in vivo and in vitro models. Data demonstrated that ferroptosis and lipid droplet deposition were observed in environmental stress-exposed testicular Leydig cells. Pretreatment with ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), a specific ferroptosis inhibitor, markedly mitigated environmental stress-reduced testosterone levels. Through screening of core genes involved in lipid d

SUBMITTER: Zhang XD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11387904 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature