Testicular Expression of Antioxidant Enzymes and Changes in Response to a Slow-Release Deslorelin Implant (Suprelorin(®) 4.7 mg) in the Dog

SIMPLE SUMMARY: We investigated the expression of the testicular antioxidant enzyme system, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD1 and 2), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx1), and glutathione disulfide reductase (GSR), in healthy adult and prepubertal dogs and after slow-release GnRH superagonist deslorelin (Suprelorin(®) 4.7 mg subcutaneous implant, Virbac, France) treatment in adult dogs. qPCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect gene expression and protein expression and localization, respectively. These antioxidant enzymes were variably expressed within cellular compartments in the seminiferous epithelium and the interstitium. SOD1, CAT, and GSR protein expression were also dependent on the stage of the seminiferous epithelium cycle in normal adult dogs. Deslorelin treatment and prepubertal status affected the expression and localization of the investigated antioxidant enzymes. Our results confirmed the presence of a functional antioxidant enzyme system in the canine testis, which was also observed during deslorelin-induced spermatogenic and steroidogenic arrest, as well as in prepubertal dogs. These results improve our current understanding of the local antioxidant protective mechanisms within the testis in the dog. ABSTRACT: Spermatogenesis takes place in a hypoxic environment, and antioxidant enzymes protect germ and somatic cells from free radical-mediated damage. Expression of the antioxidant enzyme system in the canine testis has not yet been investigated. We hypothesized that the slow-release GnRH superagonist deslorelin 4.7 mg implant, which induces temporary reversible suppression of endocrine and germinative testicular function, would affect the testicular expression of antioxidant enzymes compared to untreated adult and prepubertal dogs. The goal of this study was to investigate and compare gene (by qPCR, in whole-tissue homogenates) and protein expression (by immunohistochemistry) of superoxide dismutase (SOD1, SOD2), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx1), and glutathione disulfide reductase (GSR) in the testes of untreated adult (CON, n = 7), prepubertal (PRE, n = 8), and deslorelin-treated (DES, n = 5, 16 weeks after implantation) dogs. We found that in DES dogs, the gene expression of SOD1 was significantly (p < 0.05) lower and GPx1 was higher than in CON, and SOD2 was higher than in PRE. Expression of all, except for the SOD2 mRNA, differed between the CON and PRE dogs. Immunohistochemistry showed distinct cell-specific localization and expression patterns for the antioxidant enzymes in each experimental group. Additionally, in the CON animals, cell-specific SOD1, CAT, and GSR expression was dependent on the stage of the seminiferous epithelium cycle. These findings confirm that members of the antioxidant enzyme system are present in normal adult and prepubertal testis as well as in the deslorelin-treated downregulated adult canine testis, and that this local antioxidant system protects developing germ cells and somatic cells from oxidative damage. Different expression patterns of antioxidant enzymes in various germ cell populations and stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle may indicate differences in their susceptibility to oxidative stress depending on their developmental and maturation stage. The continued presence of the antioxidant enzymes in the testis of DES dogs offers protection to spermatogonia as well as Sertoli and Leydig cells from oxidative stress during temporary infertility, potentially contributing to ensure the reversibility of suppression and the return of normal spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis after the end of deslorelin treatment.