Effects of T-2 toxin on testosterone biosynthesis in mouse Leydig cells

To investigate the effects of T-2 toxin on testosterone biosynthesis in mouse Leydig cells.

Leydig cells isolated from clean and healthy Kunming male mice, whose concentration was adjusted to 5 × 10(5)/mL and the purity identified by the modified 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase staining method, were used to establish a primary Leydig cell culture model. Blank control group (treated with 0 ng/mL human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and 0 mol/L T-2 toxin), inductive control group (treated with 10 ng/mL hCG and 0 mol/L T-2 toxin), low-dose T-2-toxin-exposure group (treated with 10 ng/mL hCG and 10(-9) mol/L T-2 toxin), middle-dose T-2 toxin-exposure group (treated with 10 ng/mL hCG and 10(-8) mol/L T-2 toxin) and high-dose T-2-toxin-exposure group (treated with 10 ng/mL hCG and 10(-7) mol/L T-2 toxin) were designed. The testosterone level was measured after 24 h incubation.

After 24 h culture in liquid medium containing serum, the fresh isolated Leydig cells grew well and the purity exceeded 90%. By inducing 10 ng/mL hCG, the testosterone level of Leydig cells increased significantly and the difference compared with the blank control was of statistical sense. Compared with the inductive control group, the testosterone level of Leydig cells decreased, and the difference was of statistical sense in all T-2-toxin-exposure groups. Furthermore, the decrease was due to the increase in the dosage of T-2 toxin.

T-2 toxin can directly decrease the testosterone biosynthesis in the primary Leydig cells derived from the mouse testis.