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Zhou Y, Sun W, Tang Q, Lu Y, Li M, Wang J, Han X, Wu D, Wu W. Effect of prenatal perfluoroheptanoic acid exposure on spermatogenesis in offspring mice. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 260:115072. [PMID: 37262965 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), a persistent organic pollutant widespread in the environment, is suspected as an environmental endocrine disruptor for its disturbance effect on hormone homeostasis and reproductive development. Whereas the effect of intrauterine PFHpA exposure during gestation on spermatogenesis of male offspring mice is still unknown. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the effect of prenatal PFHpA exposure on the reproductive development of male offspring mice and the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) during the process. METHODS Fifty-six C57BL/6 pregnant mice were randomly divided into 4 groups. During the gestation period, the pregnant mice were exposed to 0, 0.0015, 0.015, and 0.15 mg/kg bw/d PFHpA from gestational day 1 (GD1) to GD16 by oral gavage. The male offspring mice were sacrificed by spinal dislocation at 7 weeks old. The body weight, testicular weight, and brain weight were weighed, and the intra-testicular testosterone was detected. The sperm qualities were analyzed with computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA). The testicular tissues were taken to analyze the pathological changes and examine the global m6A RNA methylation levels. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was adopted to figure out the mRNA expression levels of m6A-related enzymes in testicular tissues of different PFHpA treated groups. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) was applied to further explore the m6A RNA methylation at a whole-genome scale. RESULTS Compared with the control group, no significant differences were observed in body weight, testicular weight, testicular coefficient, and the visceral-brain ratio of testicular tissue in the PFHpA treated groups. And no significant change was observed in intra-testicular testosterone among the four groups. CASA results showed a decrease of sperm count, sperm concentration, and total cell count, as well as an increase of sperm progressive cells' head area after prenatal PFHpA exposure (P < 0.05). Hematoxylin and eosin staining of pathological sections showed seminiferous tubules morphological change, disorder arrangement of seminiferous epithelium, and reduction of spermatogenic cells in the PFHpA treated groups. PFHpA significantly decreased global levels of m6A RNA methylation in testicular tissue (P < 0.05). Besides, qRT-PCR results showed significant alteration of the mRNA expression levels of seven m6A-related enzymes (Mettl3, Mettl5, Mettl14, Pcif1, Wtap, Hnrnpa2b1, and Hnrnpc) in the PFHpA treated groups (P < 0.05). MeRIP-seq results showed a correlation between prenatal PFHpA exposure and activation and binding of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Cnga3 and Mpzl3 showed differential expression in the enrichment subcategories or pathways. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to PFHpA during the gestation period would adversely affect the development of seminiferous tubules and testicular m6A RNA methylation in offspring mice, which subsequently interferes with spermatogenesis and leads to reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weilian Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiuqin Tang
- Department of Obstetrics, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Yiwen Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiumei Han
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Di Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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Priyanka PP, Ravula AR, Yenugu S. A mixture of pyrethroids induces reduced fecundity and increased testicular genotoxicity in rats. Andrologia 2022; 54:e14567. [DOI: 10.1111/and.14567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Anandha Rao Ravula
- Department of Animal Biology School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Hyderabad India
| | - Suresh Yenugu
- Department of Animal Biology School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad Hyderabad India
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Ravula AR, Yenugu S. Effect of a mixture of pyrethroids at doses similar to human exposure through food in the Indian context. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2022; 36:e23132. [PMID: 35678313 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Residual amounts of pyrethroids were detected in rice and vegetables of the Indian market. Thus, consumers are exposed to a mixture of pyrethroids on a daily basis through food. Though a large number of studies reported the toxic effects of pyrethroids, there are no reports that used doses equivalent to human consumption. In this study, male Wistar rats were exposed daily to a mixture of pyrethroids for 1-15 months which is equivalent to the amount present in rice and vegetables consumed by an average Indian each day. The oxidant-antioxidant status (lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide; activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S transferase, and superoxide dismutase) and anatomical changes in the general organs (liver, lung, and kidney) and male reproductive tract tissues (caput, cauda, testis, and prostate) were evaluated. Further, liver and kidney function tests, lipid profile, and complete blood picture were analyzed. Increased oxidative stress, perturbations in the antioxidant enzyme activities, and damage to the anatomical architecture were observed. Disturbances in the liver function and lipid profile were significant. Results of our study demonstrate that exposure to a mixture of pyrethroids at a dose that is equivalent to human consumption can cause systemic and reproductive toxicity, which may ultimately result in the development of lifestyle diseases. This first line of evidence will fuel further studies to determine the impact of food-based pyrethroid exposure on the long-term health of humans and to envisage policies to reduce pesticide content in food products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anandha R Ravula
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - Suresh Yenugu
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
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Ravula AR, Yenugu S. Transgenerational effects on the fecundity and sperm proteome in rats exposed to a mixture of pyrethroids at doses similar to human consumption. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 290:133242. [PMID: 34896426 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pyrethroid based pesticide usage for crop protection resulted in percolation of these compounds into the food chain. Toxicological studies that reflect exposure to pyrethroids through food in the human settings are rare. We conducted animal experimentations using a mixture of pyrethroids that is equivalent to the amount consumed by average individual through rice and vegetables in the Indian context. Male rats treated with a mixture of pyrethroids for 1-12 months displayed decreased transgenerational fecundity, sperm count, activities of 3β- and 17β-HSD and perturbed hormonal profile. At the transcriptome level, the expression of genes involved in spermatogenesis, steroidogenesis, germ cell epigenetic modulators and germ cell apoptosis were altered in the testis. In the sperm lysates of control rats, 506 proteins identified by mass spectrometry. The differential expression of these proteins (treated/control ratio) in the pyrethroid exposed rats was analyzed. Among the 506 proteins, 153 had a ratio of 0; 41 had a ratio ranging from >0 to <0.5; and 10 had a ratio >2.0. Interestingly, the differential expression was transgenerational. 26 proteins that were differentially expressed in the sperm of F0 treated rats continued to remain the same in the F1, F2 and F3 generations, while the differential expression was maintained up to F2 and F1 generations for 46 and 2 proteins respectively. Some of the proteins that continued to be differentially expressed in the later generations are reported to have critical roles in male reproduction. These results indicate that the reduced fecundity observed in the later generations could be due to the continued differential expression that was initiated by pyrethroid treatment in the F0 rats. Results of our study, for the first time, provide evidence that long-term exposure to pyrethroids affects transgenerational fecundity manifested by changes in sperm proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anandha Rao Ravula
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India
| | - Suresh Yenugu
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500046, India.
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Guo L, Qin TZ, Liu LY, Lai PP, Xue YZ, Jing YT, Zhang W, Li W, Li J, Ding GR. The Abscopal Effects of Cranial Irradiation Induce Testicular Damage in Mice. Front Physiol 2021; 12:717571. [PMID: 34867437 PMCID: PMC8637864 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.717571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate whether the abscopal effects of cranial irradiation (C-irradiation) cause testicular damage in mice, male C57BL/6 mice (9weeks of age) were randomly divided into a sham irradiation group, a shielded group and a C-irradiation group and administered sham/shielded irradiation or C-irradiation at a dose rate of 2.33Gy/min (5Gy/d for 4 d consecutively). All mice were sacrificed at 4weeks after C-irradiation. We calculated the testis index, observed testicular histology by haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and observed testicular ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy. Western blotting was used to determine the protein levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Cleaved caspase 3, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and stem cell factor (SCF) in the testes of mice. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the expression of Cleaved caspase 3 and 3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD), and a TUNEL assay was used to confirm the location of apoptotic cells. The levels of testosterone (T), GDNF and SCF were measured by ELISA. We also evaluated the sperm quality in the cauda epididymides by measuring the sperm count, abnormality, survival rate and apoptosis rate. The results showed that there was no significant difference in testicular histology, ultrastructure or sperm quality between the shielded group and sham group. Compared with the sham/shielded group, the C-irradiation group exhibited a lower testis index and severely damaged testicular histology and ultrastructure at 4weeks after C-irradiation. The levels of apoptosis in the testes increased markedly in the C-irradiation group, especially in spermatogonial stem cells. The levels of serum T and testicular 3βHSD did not obviously differ between the sham group and the C-irradiation group, but the levels of GDNF and SCF in the testes increased in the C-irradiation group, compared with the sham group. In addition, the sperm count and survival rate decreased in the C-irradiation group, while the abnormality and apoptosis rate increased. Under these experimental conditions, the abscopal effects of C-irradiation induced testicular damage with regard to both structure and function and ultimately decreased sperm quality in mice. These findings provide novel insights into prevention and treatment targets for male reproductive damage induced by C-irradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Guo
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Xi'an, China
| | - Tong-Zhou Qin
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Xi'an, China
| | - Li-Yuan Liu
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Xi'an, China
| | - Pan-Pan Lai
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Xi'an, China
| | - Yi-Zhe Xue
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Xi'an, China
| | - Yun-Tao Jing
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Science, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Xi'an, China
| | - Gui-Rong Ding
- Department of Radiation Protection Medicine, School of Military Preventive Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Xi'an, China
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