Stress and testicular germ cell apoptosis

Chronic immobilization stress provokes an increase in serum corticosterone, which causes the decline in testosterone concentration. The stress and glu cocorticoid administration induce germ cell apoptosis, in rat testes. The c ell type that has been shown to undergo apoptosis is spermatogonia. Since a potent glucocorticoid receptor agonist completely suppressed glucocorticoi d induced germ cell apoptosis, the regulation of transcription of gene medi ated by the glucocorticoid receptor may enhance apoptosis of testicular ger m cells. The apoptosis of testicular germ cells would involve certain speci fic gene activities and proteins, including Bc1-2 family, p53, and Fas. Mol ecular investigations may help to determine whether the different pathways possess mechanisms of germ cell apoptosis induced by somatic stress and glu cocorticoids.