Although microcystin-LR (MC-LR) produced by cyanobacteria has been demonstrated with strong reproductive toxicity, the mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to probe the effects of MC-LR on induction of autophagy in Sertoli cells, as well as the relationship between autophagy and apoptosis. After exposure to various concentrations of MC-LR for 24 or 48 h, cell viability and membrane integrity were significantly decreased under high MC-LR conditions (50-500 nM). The autophagosome marker protein LC3 was increased at mild MC-LR concentrations (0.5-5 nM). However, autophagosomes accumulated to their peak level under high MC-LR conditions in parallel with significantly up-regulated apoptosis. Treatment with an autophagy inhibitor (3-MA) abrogated autophagosome accumulation and apoptosis. This study demonstrated that MC-LR had toxic effects on Sertoli cells by inducing autophagy and apoptosis. The autophagosome accumulation may be involved in the apoptosis induced by MC-LR.
Keywords: 3-MA; 3-methyladenine; ANOVA; AVs; Apoptosis; Autophagosome accumulation; Autophagy; CCK-8; Cyt-C; LDH; MC-LR; Sertoli cell; TEM; analysis of variance; autophagic vacuoles; cell counting kit-8; cytochrome c; lactate dehydrogenase; microcystin-LR; transmission electron microscopy.
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