| Abstract |
Dexamethasone (DEXA) is a one of glucocorticoid drugs and widely used to induce chronic stress (CS) in rodents. Many
studies have reported that the chronic stress induced by DEXA caused male reproductive dysfunctions including testicular
apoptosis. However, its effects on epididymis have never been documented. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects
of CS-induced from DEXA on histopathology and apoptotic protein expression in epididymis. Adult male Wistar rats (n, 20)
were divided into control and DEXA-CS groups. Animals in the CS group were injected intraperitoneally with 1.5 mg/kg DEXA
for 21 configurative days and confirmed for CS behaviors by the sucrose preference, tail suspension, and forced swimming tests.
Histopathology, androgen receptor (AR) expression, and apoptotic markers (caspases and heat shock protein 70 [Hsp70]) were
observed. Compared to control, the results showed that the absolute weight of epididymis plus vas deferens in the DEXA-CS
group was significantly decreased. Particularly, the histological changes including the decrease of sperm mass, increase of
epithelium height, and hyperplasia of clear cells were investigated in DEXA-CS epididymis. Interestingly, it was found that the
pro- protein forms of caspases 3 and 9 were obviously cleaved in the DEXA-induced cauda epididymis as compared to those of
control. Moreover, the AR expression was decreased in the DEXA-CS epididymis, but no difference in the Hsp70 expression
between groups. In conclusion, the chronic stress induced by DEXA can cause histopathology of caudal epididymis via apoptotic
pathway. |
Publication
Journal Publication
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