Effect of hypercholesterolemia on cell proliferation during spermatogenesis in rabbit New Zeland.

PRATICI, CARLA; BOARELLI PAOLA VANINA; SAEZ LANCELLOTTI TANIA ESTEFANÍA; PIETROBON ELISA; MARTÍNEZ VICTORIA; FORNES MIGUEL

Congreso; Reunión científica anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo.; 2012

Hypercholesterolemia (HCh) is a risk factor for human health. Cholesterol (Ch) is a component of cell membranes and a protein that is involved in their metabolism is caveolin 1 (Cav 1). The caveolins are a family of proteins found in many cell types and also in signaling, transport , and cell growth control and tumor suppressor. In this investigation, the objective was to study expression of Cav 1 and ERK 1,2 / pERK 1,2 in spermatogenesis in adult rabbits New Zeland by indirect immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and western blot. Cav 1 was associated with the progression of meiosis by its regulatory effect on the Ras/MAPK function. Cav 1 is dependent upon its association with membrane microdomains rich in Ch, which provide a link between cell membrane and germ cell meiosis progression. High cellular levels of Ch are essential for the expression of Cav 1. Cav 1 is not sufficient to initiate the Ras signaling, but is necessary for maintaining the same elevated during the second meiotic phase dependent Ch levels. The overexpression of Cav 1 by HCh affects cell proliferation by acting on the signaling pathway of the Ras/MAPK, inhibit the progression to meiosis II and producing an arrest in spermatocytes 1°.