Exposure to Dichlorvos pesticide alters the morphology of and lipid metabolism in the ventral prostate of rats.

Organophosphate pesticides are widely used in agriculture, leading to soil, water, and food contamination. Among these compounds is Dichlorvos [O,O-dimethyl O-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)phosphate, DDVP], which is listed as a highly toxic compound by the Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization. Exposure to DDVP can result in nervous, respiratory, hepatic, and reproductive abnormalities, in addition to endocrine disrupting, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects. Little is known about the impacts of DDVP on the reprogramming of lipid metabolism, which is also associated with the development and progression of cancer, since the tumor cells need to recruit, capture, and use fatty acids to compose their building membranes. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the pesticide DDVP on lipid metabolism in the prostate, after chemical induction by the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). For this, 32 Fischer rats aged 90 days were randomly divided into four experimental groups: Control, DDVP, MNU, and MNU + DDVP. The MNU and MNU + DDVP groups underwent chemical induction with MNU (15 mg/kg) and the DDVP and MNU + DDVP groups received a diet supplemented with DDVP (10 mg/kg). Histopathological analyses of the rat ventral prostate showed 100% incidence of epithelial hyperplasia in the MNU and MNU + DDVP groups. This finding was accompanied by an increase of the epithelial compartment in the MNU + DDVP group. Immunolocalization of important proteins linked to lipid metabolism has been established. In the MNU + DDVP group, Western blotting analyses pointed out an increased expression of the protein LIMP II (Lysosomal Integral Membrane Protein-II), which is correlated with the capture and distribution of lipids in tumor cells. Together, these results indicate that the association of a low dose of DDVP with MNU was able to promote alterations in the morphology and lipid metabolism of the rat ventral prostate, which may be related to tumor progression in this organ.

Panax ginseng metabolite (GIM-1) modulates the effects of monobutyl phthalate (MBP) on the GPR30/GPER1 canonical pathway in human Sertoli cells.

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of monobutyl phthalate (MBP) on GPR30-activated pathways in Sertoli cells. Additionally, we tested if GIM-1 (Panax ginseng metabolite) modulates MBP action. Human Sertoli cells (HSeC lineage) were exposed to MBP and/or GIM-1 for 30 min, 1, 12, and 48 h. Four experimental treatments were performed: control (DEMEM/F12 medium), MBP, GIM-1, and MBP + GIM-1. The results indicate that MBP activates GPR30, PKA, Src, EGFR, and the ERK1/2 proteins, while GIM-1 inhibits PKA, Src, ERK1/2, and the AKT pathway. MBP also enhances Cofilin expression, decreasing F-actin intensity on the cell surface in a short time. The combined exposure demonstrated a functional antagonism between compounds. Collectively, these data show that MBP activates GPR30 in Sertoli cells, and GIM-1 modulates this response, playing a protective role in Sertoli cells exposed to MBP.

Raloxifene decreases cell viability and migratory potential in prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) with GPR30/GPER1 involvement.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated raloxifene (ral) effects on LNCaP prostate tumour cells modulating the activity of GPER1/GPR30 receptors. METHODS: LNCaP cells were submitted for 40/120 min and 12 h to the following treatments: C: RPMI + DMSO; R: RPMI + Ral; G: RPMI + Ral + G15 (GPER1 antagonist). Trypan blue staining measured cell viability. Migratory potential (12 h) was measured by transwell migration test in translucent inserts, which were then stained with DAPI and analysed under a fluorescence microscope for quantification. Cells from 40- and 120-min treatments were subjected to protein extraction to the study of AKT, pAKT, ERK, pERK, ERß and SIRT1. KEY FINDINGS: There is a reduction in cellular viability in R compared to C at all evaluated times, and an increased cell viability in G when compared to R; cell viability was similar in C and G in all times studied. The migration assay demonstrated a significant decrease in migration potential of tumour cells in R compared to C and G. Ral treatment reduced pERK expression and increased pAKT in the treated groups after 40 min, pointing out to an antiproliferative and apoptotic effect in the GPER1-controlled rapid-effect pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Raloxifene was able to modulate GPER1 in LNCaP prostate tumour cells, decreasing cell viability and their migratory potential.

Protective effect of resveratrol on urogenital sinus and prostate development in rats exposed in utero to TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin).

This study evaluated the protective effects of resveratrol on the prostate development of rats exposed to TCDD. Pregnant rats received TCDD (1 µg/kg) at GD15 and/or RES (20 mg/kg/day) from GD10 to PND21. Newborn and adult males from Control, TCDD, TCDD + RES and RES groups were euthanized and the prostate was excised. On PND1, there was a reduction in the number of prostatic buds, AR-positive mesenchymal cells and proliferation index in epithelial and mesenchymal cells in TCDD group, but restored by RES. AhR immunoreactivity was greater in TCDD group than the other groups. On PND90, there was higher frequency of functional hyperplasia in the distal area of the prostate acini in TCDD group, but restored by RES. AhRR expression was higher in the TCDD while NRF2 was higher in the TCDD + RES compared to the other groups. Resveratrol was able to reduce the adverse effects of TCDD on prostate development and its long-term repercussions.

Combinatorial Effect of Abiraterone Acetate and NVP-BEZ235 on Prostate Tumor Progression in Rats.

Use of drug combinations that target different pathways involved in the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa) has emerged as an alternative to overcome the resistance caused by drug monotherapies. The antiandrogen abiraterone acetate and the PI3K/Akt inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 (BEZ235) may be suitable options for the prevention of drug resistance and the inhibition of PCa progression. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether abiraterone acetate and BEZ235 achieve superior therapeutic effects to either drug administered as monotherapy, in the early stages of PCa in an androgen-dependent system. Our study showed that each drug might impair tumor growth by reducing proliferation and increasing cell death when administered as monotherapy. However, tumor growth continued to progress with each drug monotherapy and some important side effects were related to BEZ. Conversely, when used in combination, the drugs impaired the inflammatory response, decreased hyperplastic lesions, and blocked tumor progression from premalignant to a malignant stage. Our data showed that the strategy to block the androgenic and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is an effective therapeutic option and should be investigated including distinct PI3K pathway inhibitors.

Regulatory and junctional proteins of the blood-testis barrier in human Sertoli cells are modified by monobutyl phthalate (MBP) and bisphenol A (BPA) exposure.

The blood-testis barrier (BTB) is responsible for providing a protected environment and coordinating the spermatogenesis. Endocrine disruptors (EDs) might lead to infertility, interfering in the BTB structure and modulation. This study aimed to correlate the actions of two EDs, monobutyl phthalate (MBP) and bisphenol A (BPA) in different periods of exposure, in a low toxicity dose to the human Sertoli cells (HSeC) and its effects on the proteins of the BTB and regulatory proteins involved in its modulation. HSeC cells were exposed to MBP (10µM) and BPA (20µM) for 6 and 48h. Western Blot assay indicated that MBP was able to reduce the expression of occludin, ZO-1, N-cadherin and Androgen Receptor (AR), while BPA leads to a reduction of occludin, ZO-1, ß-catenin and AR. TGF-ß2 and F-actin were not modified. Phalloidin and Hematoxylin and Eosin assay revealed phenotically disruption in Sertoli cells adhesion, without changes in F-actin expression or localization. Our data suggested both EDs present potential for disrupting the structure and maintenance of the human BTB by AR dependent pathway.