Disruption of Sertoli cell vimentin filaments in prepubertal rats: An acute effect of butylparaben in vivo and in vitro

Parabens are p-hydroxybenzoic acid ester compounds widely used as preservatives in foods, cosmetics, toiletries and pharmaceuticals. We have recently shown that butylparaben induces spermatogenic cell apoptosis in prepubertal rats. We have conducted the present study for further information. Three-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 8) were given a single oral dose of 1000 mg/kg butylparaben. The rats were sacrificed under anesthesia at 3, 6 and 24 h after administration and their testes were collected for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. Results showed a gradual collapse of Sertoli cell vimentin filaments and decreased actin staining intensity without accompanying changes in the pattern of tubulin expression, while spermatogenic cells became separated from the basement membrane and sloughed into the lumen in the butylparaben-treated rats, compared to the controls. To determine the direct effects of butylparaben on Sertoli cells, primary Sertoli cell cultures with and without butylparaben treatment were examined. Toluidine blue staining in butylparaben treated-cultured Sertoli cells showed an increased number and size of vacuoles in their cytoplasm. In agreement with the in vivo experiment, the in vitro study also clearly demonstrated disruption of vimentin filaments in Sertoli cells after butylparaben treatment. Considering both our present and previous reports, we can speculate that butylparaben-induced disruption of Sertoli cell vimentin filaments may lead to precocious release of spermatogenic cells from underlying Sertoli cells, and the released cells may undergo apoptosis owing to loss of support provided by the Sertoli cells.