Tamoxifen citrate promotes proliferation of Leydig cell line R2C after treatment with TGF-β1

Objective To investigate the effect of tamoxifen citrate (TCT) on Leydig cell line R2C treated by TGF-β1. Methods R2C cells were used as the research subjects. CCK-8 test was used to detect the effect of different concentration gradients of TCT on the proliferation activity of normal R2C cells to fix on the most effective concentration. TGF-β1 was incubated with R2C cells for modeling, and then TCT was added into the medium at a concentration that significantly promoted R2C cell proliferation. R2C cell proliferation activity, basal testosterone, estradiol and cell cycle were detected. Results TGF-β1 treatment with 4 ng/mL, 5 ng/mL and 6 ng/mL TCT for 24, 48, and 72 hours significantly promoted R2C cell proliferation (P＜0.05); ELISA showed that treatment with 5 ng/mL and 6 ng/mL TCT for 48 hours resulted in a decrease in basal level of estradiol(E2)(P＜0.05) and an increase in basal level of testosterone(T) (P＜0.05). Flow cytometry showed a significant increase cell counting in G1 phase in the 6 ng/mL TCT treatment group, and the cell cycle arrested in the G1 phase. Conclusions A certain dose of TCT can improve the negative hormone level changes caused by exogenous injury of Leydig cell line R2C and promote its proliferation.