Neonatal Hypothyroidism alters Expression of Antioxidant Enzymes and Redox status in adult Rat Seminiferous Tubule Cells

The present study reports the effect of 6-npropyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) induced hypothyroidism from day one of birth on the expression of antioxidant enzymes in seminiferous tubule cells of 90 days old rat. The findings indicate that, persistent neonatal hypothyroidism has induced permanent changes in the expression of genes in seminiferous tubule cells that are involved in the metabolism of reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Such alterations in their mRNA, protein and activity levels are associated with increased oxidative stress as evident by elevated levels of oxidative stress index. Withdrawal of PTU treatment on 30 days of age (transient hypothyroidism) restored the expression of catalase in seminiferous tubule cells of adult rats as that of control rats. Results suggest that PTU-induced neonatal hypothyroidism may affect testicular physiology in adulthood by causing a permanent impairment of antioxidant defences in rat seminiferous tubule cells.