RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study apoptosis and gene FasL expression induced by carbon disulfide in sertoli cells of male rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sertoli cells were exposed to different concentrations of CS(2) (0, 0.36, 0.72, 1.44 micromol/ml) for 24 hours. Survival rate, apoptosis rate, expression level of gene FasL were measured using MTT, FCM, and RT-PCR methods respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sertoli cell survival rate decreased as the concentration of CS(2) increased. The survival rate (73.34% +/- 1.39%) was significantly lower than the control group (99.98% +/- 5.48%) when the concentration of CS(2) > or = 1.44 micromol/ml (P < 0.05). Apoptosis rate increased as the CS(2) concentration increased. Apoptosis rate (7.93% +/- 0.43%) was significantly higher when the concentration of CS(2) > or = 1.44 micromol/ml (P < 0.05). Expression level of the FasL significantly increased as the concentrations of CS(2) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CS(2) is cytotoxic to sertoli cells. It could cause apoptosis of sertoli cells.</p>