The Mouse Fetal Ovary Has Greater Sensitivity Than the Fetal Testis to Benzo[a]pyrene-Induced Germ Cell Death.

ABSTRACT: The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollutant benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a known developmental gonadotoxicant. However, the mechanism of BaP-induced germ cell death is unclear. We investigated whether exposure to BaP induces apoptotic germ cell death in the mouse fetal ovary or testis. Mouse fetal gonads were dissected at embryonic day 13.5 days postcoitum (dpc) and fixed immediately or cultured for 6, 24, 48, or 72 h with various concentrations of BaP (1-1000 ng/ml). Germ cells numbers, apoptosis, and proliferation were evaluated by immunostaining. Treatment of fetal ovaries with BaP for 72 h concentration-dependently depleted germ cells. Treatment with BaP elevated the expression of BAX protein at 6 h and activated downstream caspases-9 and -3 at 24 h in a concentration-dependent manner in

SUBMITTER: Lim J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4960906 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature