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Rapamycin Ameliorates Radiation-Induced Testis Damage in Mice
Juan Yang1, Rui Xu2,3, Yingying Luan3
1School of Public Health, Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|May 13, 2022
Summary
Radiation exposure damages male testes by activating mTORC1 signaling. Rapamycin treatment inhibits this pathway, protecting spermatogonia and accelerating testicular recovery after radiation injury.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Radiation Biology
- Molecular Endocrinology
Background:
- Male infertility is a growing global concern.
- The testis is highly susceptible to radiation damage, impacting male reproductive function.
- Understanding radiation-induced testicular injury mechanisms is crucial for developing protective strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms of radiation-induced testicular damage.
- To explore the efficacy of rapamycin in mitigating radiation-induced testis injury.
- To elucidate the role of the mTORC1 signaling pathway in testicular response to radiation.
Main Methods:
- C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 8.0 Gy X-ray irradiation.
- Testis and epididymis tissues were collected at specific time points post-irradiation (days 1, 3, 7).
- Spermatogonia counts, sperm function, cell proliferation, and apoptosis were analyzed; mTORC1 signaling was assessed with and without rapamycin treatment.
Main Results:
- Radiation exposure significantly disrupted testicular structure and reduced spermatogonia numbers.
- Irradiated testes showed activated mTORC1 signaling, decreased cell proliferation, and increased apoptosis.
- Rapamycin treatment effectively inhibited mTORC1 signaling, enhanced cell proliferation, and alleviated testicular injury.
- Rapamycin administration improved cell survival and maintained the spermatogenesis cycle 35 days post-irradiation.
Conclusions:
- Radiation-induced testicular damage involves mTORC1 signaling pathway activation.
- Inhibiting mTORC1 signaling with rapamycin is a promising strategy to protect against and treat radiation-induced testicular injury.
- Rapamycin facilitates testis recovery by preserving spermatogenesis following radiation exposure.
