Sodium arsenic alters the gene expression of some steroidogenic genes in TM3 leydig cell

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Arsenic is a broad-spectrum environmental contaminant with mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic effects. Due to its widespread distribution in nature, drinking water is the most common source of arsenic exposure for the general population. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of sodium arsenite on the viability and expression profile of steroidogenic genes in TM3 Leydig cells, responsible for testicular steroidogenesis. The TM3 Leydig cells were treated with sodium arsenic (384,8 µM or 7,6 mM) for 24 hours with LH (Luteinizing hormone) stimulation. The MTT assay was used for measuring cell viability, the expression level of key genes of the steroidogenesis was evaluated using RT-qPCR.The MTT assay showed that cell viability was decreased dose-dependently. RT-qPCR demonstrated that the expression level of CYP11A1, CYP17A1 were decreased as compared to the untreated control while StAR gene expression was found to be surprisingly high in the cell exposed to high-dose arsenic (p<0.05). The expression profile of two dehydrogenase; 17?-HSD and 3?-HSD was significantly reduced in high dose arsenic treated-group (p<0.05); but however, no statistical significance was found in low-dose. The RTqPCR also showed that the expression SF-1 (Steroidogenic factor-1), a key regulator of adrenal and reproductive development, was significantly decreased in both low-dose and high-dose (p<0.05). Arsenic toxicity in Leydig cell leads to cell viability loss and cause a perturbation in key steroidogenic genes, reflecting the possible role of arsenic in infertility and male reproductive system disorders.