Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology

The Korean Society of Environmental Health and Toxicology (환경독성보건학회)
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DDT Reduced Testosterone and Aromatase Activity Via ER Receptor in Leydig Cell

DDT의 Aromatase 증가에 의한 Testosterone 감소효과

  • Lee, Kyung-Jin (Department of Biology, Nature Science, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Wui, Seong-Uk (Department of Biology, Nature Science, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Jin Heo (Department of Biology, Nature Science, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Kim, Sun-Hee (Institute of Gwangju Health and Environment Research) ;
  • Jeong, Ji-Yeon (Department of Biology, Nature Science, Chonnam National University) ;
  • Lee, Jong-Bin (Department of Biology, Nature Science, Chonnam National University)
  • Published : 2003.06.01
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Abstract

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), is a widespread environmental pollutant. In this study, we investigated the effect of DDT on testosterone production through aromatase and investigated its molecular mechanism in testicular leydig cell, R2C. We investigated that the effects of DDT on testosterone production and its effects on aromatase activity in R2C cell by radio immunoassay (RIA). As the results, the potent leyding cell activator LH increased testosterone production compared to the control. DDT exposure significantly decreased testosterone production in R2C cell and DDT alone affected T reduction in a dose-dependent manner in R2C cell slightly. In addition, DDT was found to increase aromatase activity in R2C cell in a dose dependent manner. In order to assess whether the suppressive effects of DDT on LH-inducible testosterone production might be influenced by the ER, ICI 182.780, a pure antiestrogen, was used, and it was found that these inhibitory effects of DDT were antagonized by ICI 182.780, implying that the ER mediates the suppressive effects of DDT. Furthermore, the inducible effects of DDT on aromatase might be influenced by the ER, ICI 182.780 was used, and it was found that these enhancing effects of DDT were antagonized by ICI 182.780, implying that the ER mediates the inducible effects of DDT. Our results indicated that DDT inhibition of LH-inducible testosterone production in R2C is mediated through aromatase. However, the precise mechanisms by which DDT enhance in leyding cell remains unknown. The current study suggests the possibility that DDT might act as a modulator aromatase gene transcription.

본 연구는 환경호르몬(endocrine disruptors)으로 분류되었으며, 제초제로 널리 사용되었던 Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane(DDT)가 설치류의 생식세포 중 Leydig 세포의 testosterone(T)생성억제 및 그 관련 작용메카니즘을 규명코자 수행되었다. 먼저 흰쥐의 웅성 생식세포주인 R2C세포에 T의 양 및 aromatase 활성도를 radio immunoassay (RIA)방법을 이용하여 측정하였다. 그 결과 R2C 세포에 황체형성호르몬(LH)를 처리하여 testosterone생성을 증가시킨 후, DDT를 처리한 군들은 대조군에 비하여 농도 의존적으로 T의 양은 감소하였으며, aromatase 활성도는 증가하였다. 또한 DDT자체만 처리한 군에서도 대조군에 비하여 testosterone의 생성이 감소하였다. 이러한 aromatase활성 증가가 estradiol receptor(ER)와의 상호 관련성을 확인하기 위해 ER antagonist인 ICI 182.780를 처리한 후 T의 양 및 aromatase 활성도를 측정한 결과 DDT에 의해 증가된 aromatase활성도가 ICI 182.780에 의해 다시 감소됨을 확인하였다. 또한 DDT에 의해 감소된 T의 양도 ICI 182.780에 의해 다시 회복되었다. In vivo실험으로 흰쥐에 DDT를 직접 투여한 후 정소 내 성 호르몬들을 측정해 본 결과 T의 양은 유의성 있게 감소하였으며, estradiol(E$_2$)의 양은 증가하였으며, aromatase 활성도도 감소하였다. 이러한 결과를 종합해 볼 때 DDT는 aromatase를 감소시키고, 이렇게 감소된 aromatase에 의해 testosterone 생성량을 억제하고, 이러한 DDT의 aromatase의 감소는 ER을 경유하는 것으로 추정할 수 있다.

Keywords

References

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