The Importance of Testes Function in Mouse Models of Cachexia Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Hallmarks of cancer cachexia include chronic inflammation, insulin resistance and hypogonadism. Genetic and tumor implantation mouse models are methods used to study cancer cachexia. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between gonadal function and body weight (BW) loss in two mouse models of cachexia. Experiment 1: BALB/c mice were implanted with C26 tumor cells and monitored for 29 days. BW, testes weight, and circulating testosterone decreased in tumor bearing mice (p < 0.05). Experiment 2: Male ApcMin/+ (Min) mice were sacrificed at either 12, 14, or 20 weeks of age. Min BW, testes weight, and circulating testosterone decreased between 14 and 20 weeks of age (p <0.05). Testes expression of androgen receptor protein decreased, while Bax protein and pSTAT(Tyr705) increased between 14 and 20 weeks of age (p < 0.05). Testosterone levels and testes weight were correlated with BW loss in the Min mouse. Experiment 3: Male Min and C57BL/6 mice were treated with an IL6 receptor antibody or PBS control at 16 weeks of age for 2 weeks. Although cachexia decreased testes weight and circulating testosterone, IL6 receptor antibody administration attenuated these changes. In the C26 and Min mouse models of cachexia, decreased circulating testosterone appears to be an important regulatory event for the progression of the disease. Funded by NCI R01CA121249

published proceedings

  • The FASEB Journal

author list (cited authors)

  • Hardee, J. P., White, J. P., Puppa, M. J., Aartun, J. D., Narsale, A. A., Sato, S., & Carson, J. A.

complete list of authors

  • Hardee, Justin P||White, James P||Puppa, Melissa J||Aartun, Johannes D||Narsale, Aditi A||Sato, Shu||Carson, James A

publisher