Authors

Devon C. Snow-Lisy, M.D., Edmund S. Sabanegh Jr., M.D., Mary K. Samplaski, M.D., Viola B. Morris, Ph.D., Vinod Labhasetwar, Ph.D.

Volume 101, Issue 2, Pages 560-567.e3, February 2014

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate targeted superoxide dismutase (SOD)–loaded biodegradable nanoparticles’ (NPs) ability to protect Sertoli cells from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress.

Design:

Cell culture controlled experimental study.

Setting:

Research laboratory.

Cells:

Mouse testis Sertoli cells (TM4).

Interventions:

Sertoli cells were exposed to 0–200 μg/mL plain media, unconjugated NPs, or FSH peptide–conjugated NPs for 2 or 24 hours to assess uptake. Next, Sertoli cells were exposed to 0–50 mmol H2O2 with 0–1 mg/mL unconjugated SOD-loaded NPs, FSH-conjugated SOD-loaded NPs, or equivalent units of SOD in solution as a control for 2–6 hours to assess influence on cell survival after oxidative stress.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Cell viability, flow cytometry, and microscopy.

Result(s):

FSH peptide targeting improved uptake of NPs by Sertoli cells. FSH-conjugated SOD-NPs significantly protected Sertoli cells at 6 hours of H2O2−induced oxidative stress, with 100% survival with FSH-conjugated SOD-NPs compared with unconjugated SOD-NPs (45%) or SOD in solution (36%).

Conclusion(s):

Conjugation of NPs with FSH peptide improves cellular uptake and survival when SOD-loaded NPs are coincubated with Sertoli cells undergoing oxidative stress. This study represents a step toward developing NPs for the targeted treatment of testicular oxidative stress.

Read the full text at: http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(13)03197-X/fulltext