Concentrated ambient PM 2.5 exposure affects mice sperm quality and testosterone biosynthesis

PeerJ

article

Yingying Yang¹  Tingting Yang³  Shengxin Liu²  Zhijuan Cao¹  Yan Zhao¹  Xiujuan Su¹  Zehuan Liao⁴  Xiaoming Teng⁶  Jing Hua¹ 

[1] Department of Women and Children’s Health Care, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine;Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet;Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Fudan University;School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University;Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology ,(MTC), Karolinska Institutet;Department of Assisted Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine

关键词: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5);    Sperm quality;    Testosterone biosynthesis;    Reproductive health;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.8109

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Background Studies suggested that PM2.5 exposure could lead to adverse reproductive effects on male animals. However, the underlying mechanism is still not clear. Besides, animals in the majority of previous studies were exposed to PM2.5 through intratracheal instillation which should be improved. In addition, limited amount of research has been conducted in China where the PM2.5 concentration is higher and the PM2.5 components are different. The aim of this work is to explore the effects of concentrated ambient PM2.5 (CAP) on mice sperm quality and testosterone biosynthesis. Methods A total of 12 male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to filtered air (FA) or CAP for 125 days using the Shanghai Meteorological and Environmental Animal Exposure System. The mice sperm concentration, sperm motility, DNA fragmentation index, high DNA stainability and plasma testosterone were analyzed. Testicular histology and sperm morphology were observed through optical microscope. Testosterone biosynthesis related gene expressions were analyzed using real-time PCR, including cytochrome P450 CHOL side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β HSD), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom), estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR) and follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR). Results Exposure to CAP resulted in disturbance of various stages of spermatogenesis and significant higher percentage of abnormal sperm (FA vs. CAP: 24.37% vs. 44.83%) in mice testis. CAP exposure significantly decreased sperm concentration (43.00 × 106 vs. 25.33 × 106) and motility (PR: 63.58% vs. 55.15%; PR + NP: 84.00% vs. 77.08%) in epididymis. Plasma testosterone concentration were significantly declined (0.28 ng/ml vs. 0.69 ng/ml) under CAP exposure. Notably, the levels of testosterone biosynthesis related genes, StAR, P450scc, P450arom, ER and FSHR were significantly decreased with CAP exposure. Conclusion Concentrated ambient PM2.5 exposure altered mice sperm concentration, motility and morphology, which might be mediated primarily by the decline in testosterone concentration and testosterone biosynthesis process.

【 授权许可】

CC BY