Neonatal corticosterone administration increases p27-positive Sertoli cell number and decreases Ki67-positive Sertoli cell number and Sertoli cell number in the testes of mice at prepuberty

抄録

Cortisol and corticosterone (CORT) are steroid, antistress hormones and one of the glucocorticoids in humans and animals, respectively. Studies have demonstrated the toxicological effects of excessive secretion of CORT following exposure to extreme mental or physical stresses in early life stages. In the male reproductive system, previous studies, we observed that Sertoli cell numbers were significantly reduced in CORT-administered mice. This study evaluated the mechanism by which CORT administration in early life stages was decreased Sertoli cell number. CORT was subcutaneously injected at 0.36 (low-), 3.6 (middle-), and 36 (high-dosed) mg/kg body weight from postnatal day (PND) 1 to 10 in ICR mice. Sertoli cell numbers were significantly reduced in low- and middle-dosed mice on PNDs 10 and 16. We observed a dose-dependent increase in serum CORT levels on PND 10, and serum testosterone levels were significantly increased only in high-dosed-CORT mice. Triiodothyronine levels were significantly higher in the low-dosed mice but lower in the middle- and high-dosed mice. P27-positive Sertoli cell numbers increased in low- and middle-dosed mice, whereas Ki67-positive Sertoli cell numbers were reduced in dosed mice. These results suggested that increased serum CORT levels in early life stages could disrupt several hormone levels and induce p27 expression in Sertoli cells and reduce Ki67 expression in Sertoli cells, leading to termination of Sertoli cell proliferation and decreased Sertoli cell number in mouse testes.