| First Author | Hikim AP | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | Endocrinology | Volume | 144 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 3167-75 |
| PubMed ID | 12810573 | Mgi Jnum | J:84351 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2667455 | Doi | 10.1210/en.2003-0175 |
| Citation | Hikim AP, et al. (2003) Key apoptotic pathways for heat-induced programmed germ cell death in the testis. Endocrinology 144(7):3167-75 |
| abstractText | Short-term exposure (43 C for 15 min) of the rat testis to mild heat results within 6 h in stage- and cell-specific activation of germ cell apoptosis. Initiation of apoptosis was preceded by a redistribution of Bax from a cytoplasmic to paranuclear localization in heat-susceptible germ cells. Here we show that the relocation of Bax is accompanied by cytosolic translocation of cytochrome c and is associated with activation of the initiator caspase 9 and the executioner caspases 3, 6, and 7 and cleavage of poly(ADP) ribose polymerase. Furthermore, early in apoptosis, a significant amount of Bax also accumulates in endoplasmic reticulum, as assessed by Western blot analyses of fractionated testicular lysates. In additional studies using the FasL-defective gld mice, we have shown that heat-induced germ cell apoptosis is not blocked, thus providing evidence that the Fas signaling system may be dispensable for heat-induced germ cell apoptosis in the testis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the mitochondria- and possibly also endoplasmic reticulum-dependent pathways are the key apoptotic pathways for heat-induced germ cell death in the testis. |
