Dexamethasone Effects on Fas Ligand Expression in Mouse Testicular Germ Cells

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Dex, a widely used GC, on apoptosis and expression of FasL protein in the mouse testicular germ cells. The effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on expression of Fas ligand (FasL), an important proapoptotic protein, in the mouse testicular germ cells were investigated. Six groups, each of 8 male NMRI mice were chosen for the experiment. Experimental groups received one of the following treatments daily for 7 days: 4, 7 and 10 mg kg(-1) Dex. Control groups were treated with equivalent volumes of saline. Experimental and control animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last injection. Immunohistochemical procedure was used to evaluation of FasL expression and the deoxyuridine nick-end labeling (TUNEL) was applied to assessment of the apoptotic germ cells. FasL expression of testicular germ cells were significantly increased in 10 mg kg(-1) Dex treated mice (p < 0.05), particularly at stages VII-VIII of spermatogenic cycle. Apoptotic indexes (AIs) of germ cells were significantly increased in 7 and 10 mg kg(-1) Dex treated mice.