[H₂O₂ alters metabolism in TM4 Sertoli cells in the mouse]

To explore the mechanisms of oxidative stress-induced damage to TM4 Sertoli cells in the mouse using metabolomics techniques based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

We established the model of oxidative stress-induced damage to mouse TM4 Sertoli cells by treatment with H₂O₂. Then, we detected the survival rate and apoptosis rate of the TM4 cells by MTT and flow cytometry respectively, measured the concentration of ROS in the TM4 cells with the DCFH-DA fluorescent probe, and determined the levels of endogenous metabolites in the TM4 cells by GC-MS after H₂O₂ intervention.

After 2 hours of treatment with H₂O₂ at 600 μmol/L, the survival rate of the TM4 cells was reduced to about 50%, and the total apoptosis rates in the low- (100 μmol/L), medium- (300 μmol/L), and high-dose (600 μmol/L) groups were (19.45 ± 0.53), (20.12 ± 0.58), and (37.13 ± 0.35)%, respectively, increased in a dose-dependent manner as compared with (10.28 ± 0.35)% in the blank control (P <0.05). The ROS level was significantly higher in the medium- and high-dose groups than in the control (［1.27 ± 0.10］ vs ［1.00 ± 0.08］%, P <0.05; ［2.07 ± 0.09］ vs ［1.00 ± 0.08］%, P <0.01). Compared with the blank control group, the high-dose H₂O₂ group showed evident changes in the levels of amino acid and carbohydrates in the TM4 cells, more significantly in the levels of valine, norvaline, leucine, glutamic acid, arabinose, fructose, and 5-serotonin cholesterol (VIP >1, P <0.05).

Oxidative stress-induced damage and apoptosis of TM4 Sertoli cells are closely associated with the metabolism of amino acid, glucose, and energy in the cells.