Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phtalate (MEHP) affects intercellular junctions of Sertoli cells:a potential role of oxidative stress.

SOBARZO CM.; NOGUEIRA DE MORAIS R.; LUSTIG L; DENDUCHIS B; SCHTEINGART H

REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY (ELMSFORD, N.Y.)

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 58 p. 203 - 212

0890-6238

We analyzed the potential role of oxidative stress induced by mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) in adherent cell junction protein expression of prepubertal rat Sertoli cells (SC) in vitro. Five-day SC cultures were treated with MEHP (200μM) for 24h and compared to cells in basal conditions. Western blot and immunofluorescent (IF) analyses showed that MEHP induced increase of N-cadherin and catenin expression, modifying its distribution. Concomitantly, Cx-43 expression decreased significantly and delocalization of the IF signal for tight junction proteins (occludin, claudin-11 and ZO-1) occurred. Indicative of oxidative stress, MEHP induced in SC an increase of lipoperoxides, a decrease in glutathione (GSH) levels and a concomitant increase in Glutathione S-Transferases (GST) activity. Antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (1mM) treatment prevented GSH decrease and N-cadherin and α-catenin up-regulation induced by MEHP. Our data suggest that oxidative stress signaling is a mechanism involved in adherent cell junctions disruption induced by MEHP in SC cultures.