Enhancement of Germ Cell Apoptosis Induced by Chronic Ethanol in Transgenic Mice Overexpressing Fas Ligand

Abstract

Objective: To analysis ethanol exposure and its apoptosis results in germline cells. Methods: Transgenic mouse model ubiquitously overexpressing human FasL was applied to investigate whether Fas ligand played a role in ethanol-induced testicular germ cell apoptosis. Wild-type (WT) and transgenic (TG) mice were treated with acute ethanol (20% v/v) by intraperitoneal injection five times. Flow cytometry, western blot and histopathological examination were carried out to estimate the apoptosis and FasL expression status in germline cells. Results: Flow cytometry analysis showed that the percentage of FasL-positive cells was increased by 5.55% by ethanol while compared with control group (3.91%). The increaesd expression of the FasL protein in ethanol treated cells analyzed by western blot was consistent with the result of Flow cytometry. The apoptotic cell death was observed by PI staining of mouse testis tissue. Consequently, ethanol-treated WT mice displayed increased apoptotic cells while compared with saline-treated WT mice, besides, the FasL transgenetic mice displayed severe injury of spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Conclusion: Chronic ethanol exposure can result in testicular germ cell apoptosis. Our present study provided direct evidence demonstrating that Fas ligand mediated apoptosis in testicular germ cells induced by acute ethanol using FasL transgenic mice.