Exposure to 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid alters glucose metabolism in immature rat Sertoli cells

•2,4-D alters the metabolic pathways of in vitro cultured Sertoli cells (SCs).•Lactate production by exposed SCs for the developing germ cells is compromised.•An androgen-like response was induced by 2,4-D in SCs.•2,4-D can alter SCs metabolic function and thus spermatogenesis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 2,4-D, an herbicide used worldwide also known as endocrine disruptor, in Sertoli cell (SC) metabolism.Immature rat SCs were maintained 50 h under basal conditions or exposed to 2,4-D (100 nM, 10 μM and 1 mM). SCs exposed to 10 μM and 1 mM of 2,4-D presented lower intracellular glucose and lactate content. Exposure to 10 μM of 2,4-D induced a significant decrease in glucose transporter-3 mRNA levels and phosphofructokinase-1 mRNA levels decreased in cells exposed to 100 nM and 10 μM of 2,4-D. Exposure to 100 nM and 10 μM also induced a decrease in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) mRNA levels while the LDH protein levels were only decreased in cells exposed to 1 mM of 2,4-D.Exposure to 2,4-D altered glucose uptake and metabolization in SCs, as well as lactate metabolism and export that may result in impaired spermatogenesis.