Phthalate Toxicity as a Possible Model for Germ Cell Tumor Generation: Analysis of Germ Cell and Sertoli Global Epigenetics

• Grant number: 10/09471-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2010
• End date: April 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology
• Principal Investigator: Taiza Stumpp Teixeira
• Grantee: Raíza Rafael Bonomo
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The interactions between germ cells (GC) and Sertoli cells are determinant to spermatogenesis. These interactions are also crucial for the normal development of the male gonad. It has been suggested that problems with these interactions can lead to germ cell tumors and hermaphroditism. During the embryonic period, Sertoli cells play a key role in GC sex determination and in its differentiation. The endocrine disruptors, such as DBP, are Sertoli cell toxicants and cause damage to GC-Sertoli contact and to spermatogenesis. Some studies suggest that germ cell tumors occur due to disturbs in GC differentiation. Thus, because GC-Sertoli interactions are crucial for GC differentiation and DBP affects GC-Sertoli contact, the aim of this study is to look at GC differentiation in embryos from mothers treated with DBP.Pregnant rats will receive 500mg/Kg of DBP by gavage from gestation day (GD) 12 to GD 15, when determinat events of testicular differentiation are going on. The male embryos will be collected at GD 16 and GD19. The testes will be submitted to morphological analysis and to the immuno-labeling of Mvh and Gata-4 proteins to investigate GC differentiation as well as to 5-methylcytosine labeling to detect DNA methylation.