Fluoride had been reported to damage the structure and function of testicular tissues and reproductive cells; however, the mechanisms underlying its toxicity remained unclear. Autophagy plays a key role in reproductive function. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of fluoride on autophagy in Sertoli cells. Sertoli cells were exposed to 0, 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mM NaF for 24 h. The results showed that fluoride exposure up-regulated Beclin1 and p62 mRNA and protein expression levels with concomitant down-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of LC3 and Atg5. In conclusion, exposure to fluoride impaired the autophagy process in Sertoli cells, which could be one of fluoride's mechanisms in male reproductive toxicity.
Keywords: Autophagy; Fluoride; Reproductive toxicity; Sertoli cells.