Comparison of the effect of exosomes derived from Sertoli cells with vitamin C on damage induced by electromagnetic field (50 Hz) in spermatogonial stem cells

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) as adult stem cells are crucial for spermatogenesis. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) leads to biological activity disruption of these cells and spermatogenesis. Antioxidants like vitamin C can reduce the damage caused by EMF through oxidative stress reduction. Recent studies also reported the key role of Sertoli cell paracrine signaling in regulating the maintenance and differentiation of SSCs. Thus, we examined and compared the effect of vitamin C and exosomes derived from Sertoli cells on damage induced by EMF in SSCs.

SSCs and Sertoli cells were isolated from the testes of immature male mice. The alkaline phosphatase activity of SSCs was investigated. SSCs were exposed to 50 Hz EMF intensity of 2.5 mT for one hour/five days and were treated with the optimal concentration of vitamin C and various concentrations of exosome. Then the rate of viability, colonization capacity, and apoptosis of these cells were examined.

Our results showed the destructive effect of EMF by reducing viability, colonization rate and alteration of SSCs nuclei. Also, these results were confirmed by increasing expression level of Caspase 9 as apoptotic gene and down-regulation of SOD as antioxidant gene. The addition of vitamin C and exosomes improved the alterations induced by EMF in SSCs; however exosomes had more ameliorative effect in comparison with vitamin C on these alterations.

These findings demonstrated the capacity and effectiveness of exosomes as a new therapeutic agent that can restore SSCs microenvironment damaged caused by EMF exposure.