Antioxidant system in rat testicular cells

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Abstract
The activity of the enzymes involved in the antioxidant defence — superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reductase (GR) S-transferase (GST) — as well as the glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in different rat testicular cell populations. A differential distribution of these components among testicular cell types was clearly observed. Sertoli and peritubular cells had elevated SOD and GSH-dependent enzyme activities associated with a high GSH content. Compared with the somatic cells, pachytene spermatocytes (PS) round spermatids (RS) presented a different antioxidant system characterized by higher SOD activity and GSH content associated with very low GSH-dependent enzyme activity. Spermatozoa exhibited the same enzymatic system as PS and RS but were devoid of GSH. Interstitial tissue displayed high GSH content, moderate SOD and GSH-related enzyme activity except for GPx which was very elevated. It is concluded that the different categories of testicular cells probably display a highly variable susceptibility to oxidative stress.

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