Dietary Alpha‐Tocopherol Affects Differential Gene Expression in Rat Testes

• Published in: IUBMB life 2004-05, Vol.56 (5), p.277-280
• Main Authors: Rota, Cristina, Barella, Luca, Minihane, Anne‐Marie, Stöcklin, Elisabeth, Rimbach, Gerald
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alpha-Tocopherol - administration & dosage; alpha-Tocopherol - pharmacology; Animals; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cyclin D3; Cyclins - metabolism; DNA array; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; GATA4 Transcription Factor; gene expression; Gene Expression - drug effects; Male; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors - metabolism; Rats; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; testes; Testis - drug effects; Testis - enzymology; Testis - metabolism; Time Factors; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Up-Regulation; vitamin E; α‐Tocopherol
• ISSN: 1521-6543; 1521-6551
• DOI: 10.1080/15216540410001724133

Gene‐chip technology was employed to study the effect of dietary vitamin E (VE) on gene expression in rat testes. Male albino rats were fed with either a diet deficient in VE or a standard diet containing VE. Differential gene expression was monitored at five individual time‐points over a period of 14 months with all animals individually profiled. Low VE intake resulted in the consistent up‐regulation of 7‐dehydrocholesterol reductase and GATA binding protein 4, both involved in testosterone synthesis. Cyclin D3, important in cell cycle progression and Wilms tumor 1, related to cancer development, were also up‐regulated in the vitamin E deficient animals. This study demonstrates that low dietary VE intake has long‐term effects on gene expression in the testes. Our data provides insights into the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of vitamin E on the male reproductive organ. IUBMB Life, 56: 277‐280, 2004