| First Author | Vera Y | Year | 2006 |
| Journal | Mol Endocrinol | Volume | 20 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 1597-609 |
| PubMed ID | 16469770 | Mgi Jnum | J:110069 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3639061 | Doi | 10.1210/me.2005-0395 |
| Citation | Vera Y, et al. (2006) Involvement of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and inducible nitric oxide synthase in apoptotic signaling of murine and human male germ cells after hormone deprivation. Mol Endocrinol 20(7):1597-609 |
| abstractText | This study investigates the role of p38 MAPK, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and the intrinsic pathway signaling in male germ cell death in rats after hormonal deprivation by a potent GnRH antagonist treatment. Germ cell apoptosis, involving exclusively middle (VII-VIII) stages, was activated by d 5 after GnRH antagonist treatment. Initiation of germ cell apoptosis was preceded by p38 MAPK activation and induction of iNOS. p38 MAPK activation and iNOS induction were further accompanied by a marked perturbation of the BAX/BCL-2 rheostat, cytochrome c, and DIABLO release from mitochondria, caspase activation, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Concomitant administration of aminoguanidine, a selective iNOS inhibitor, significantly prevented hormone deprivation-induced germ cell apoptosis. Inhibitors of iNOS or p38 MAPK were also effective in preventing human male germ cell apoptosis induced by hormone-free culture conditions. Together, these results establish a new signal transduction pathway involving p38 MAPK and iNOS that, through activation of the intrinsic pathway signaling, promotes male germ cell death in response to a lack of hormonal stimulation across species. |
