Assessment of Male Rodent Fertility in General Toxicology 6-Month Studies

Genetic mapping of a male factor subfertility locus on mouse chromosome 4

Male reproductive anomalies are widely distributed among mammals, and male factors are estimated to contribute to approximately 50% of cases of human infertility. The B10.M/Sgn (B10.M) mouse strain exhibits two adverse reproductive phenotypes: severe teratospermia and male subfertility. Although teratospermia is known to be heritable, the relationship between teratospermia and male subfertility has not been well characterized. The fertility of B10.M male mice is considerably lower (~ 30%) than that of standard laboratory mouse strains (~ 70%). To genetically analyze male subfertility, F2 males were produced by intercrossing the F1 progeny of female B10.M and male C3H/HeN mice. The fertility of each F2 male mouse was assessed based on the outcomes of matings with five females. Statistical analysis of correlations between the two reproductive phenotypes (teratospermia and subfertility) in F2 males (n = 177) revealed that teratospermia is not the cause of male subfertility. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of the male subfertility phenotype (n = 128) using GigaMUGA markers mapped one significant QTL peak to chromosome 4 at 62.9 centimorgans (cM) with a logarithm of odds score of 11.81 (P < 0.05). We named the QTL locus Mfsf1 (male factor subfertility 1). Further genetic analysis using recombinant males restricted the physical area to 1.53 megabasepairs (Mbp), encompassing 22 protein-coding genes. In addition, we found one significant QTL and one indicative QTL on chromosome 5 and 12, respectively, that interacted with the Mfsf1 locus. Our results demonstrate that genetic dissection of male subfertility in the B10.M strain is a useful model for characterizing the complex genetic mechanisms underlying reproduction and infertility.

Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee Points to Consider Review: Inclusion of Reproductive and Pathology End Points for Assessment of Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity in Pharmaceutical Drug Development

Standard components of nonclinical toxicity testing for novel pharmaceuticals include clinical and anatomic pathology, as well as separate evaluation of effects on reproduction and development to inform clinical development and labeling. General study designs in regulatory guidances do not specifically mandate use of pathology or reproductive end points across all study types; thus, inclusion and use of these end points are variable. The Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee of the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) formed a Working Group to assess the current guidelines and practices on the use of reproductive, anatomic pathology, and clinical pathology end points in general, reproductive, and developmental toxicology studies. The Working Group constructed a survey sent to pathologists and reproductive toxicologists, and responses from participating organizations were collected through the STP for evaluation by the Working Group. The regulatory context, relevant survey results, and collective experience of the Working Group are discussed and provide the basis of each assessment by study type. Overall, the current practice of including specific end points on a case-by-case basis is considered appropriate. Points to consider are summarized for inclusion of reproductive end points in general toxicity studies and for the informed use of pathology end points in reproductive and developmental toxicity studies.

Systems Toxicology of Male Reproductive Development: Profiling 774 Chemicals for Molecular Targets and Adverse Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Trends in male reproductive health have been reported for increased rates of testicular germ cell tumors, low semen quality, cryptorchidism, and hypospadias, which have been associated with prenatal environmental chemical exposure based on human and animal studies.

OBJECTIVE

In the present study we aimed to identify significant correlations between environmental chemicals, molecular targets, and adverse outcomes across a broad chemical landscape with emphasis on developmental toxicity of the male reproductive system.

METHODS

We used U.S. EPA's animal study database (ToxRefDB) and a comprehensive literature analysis to identify 774 chemicals that have been evaluated for adverse effects on male reproductive parameters, and then used U.S. EPA's in vitro high-throughput screening (HTS) database (ToxCastDB) to profile their bioactivity across approximately 800 molecular and cellular features.

RESULTS

A phenotypic hierarchy of testicular atrophy, sperm effects, tumors, and malformations, a composite resembling the human testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) hypothesis, was observed in 281 chemicals. A subset of 54 chemicals with male developmental consequences had in vitro bioactivity on molecular targets that could be condensed into 156 gene annotations in a bipartite network.

CONCLUSION

Computational modeling of available in vivo and in vitro data for chemicals that produce adverse effects on male reproductive end points revealed a phenotypic hierarchy across animal studies consistent with the human TDS hypothesis. We confirmed the known role of estrogen and androgen signaling pathways in rodent TDS, and importantly, broadened the list of molecular targets to include retinoic acid signaling, vascular remodeling proteins, G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and cytochrome P450s.

CITATION

Leung MC, Phuong J, Baker NC, Sipes NS, Klinefelter GR, Martin MT, McLaurin KW, Setzer RW, Darney SP, Judson RS, Knudsen TB. 2016. Systems toxicology of male reproductive development: profiling 774 chemicals for molecular targets and adverse outcomes. Environ Health Perspect 124:1050-1061; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510385.

Time Course for Onset and Recovery from Effects of a Novel Male Reproductive Toxicant: Implications for Apical Preclinical Study Designs

In the pharmaceutic ICH S5(R2) guidelines for reproductive toxicity testing, a premating dose duration of 14 days is considered sufficient for assessment of male fertility for compounds that are not testicular toxicants. A novel α7 subtype of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) agonist, originally intended for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, did not cause changes in sperm counts, motility, or testicular histopathology in rat toxicity studies of up to 6 months duration. However, profound decrements in male fertility (reduced pregnancy rates and litter sizes) occurred after 11 weeks of dosing in male rats. In two time-course investigations, dosed male rats were paired with undosed females after 5, 14, and 28 daily doses and again after 2 and 4 weeks off-dose. Effects on male fertility were undetectable after 5 days. After 14 days, there was no effect on pregnancy rate, but preimplantation losses were increased. Effects on both pregnancy rates and preimplantation losses were clearly detectable after 28 days, but were of lesser magnitude than after 11 weeks of dosing. Fertility recovered rapidly after dose cessation. These studies illustrate the sensitivity of a long premating dose period at revealing hazard and determining the magnitude of effect on male fertility for compounds that are intended for chronic administration and do not affect testicular histopathology.

Approaches for identifying germ cell mutagens: Report of the 2013 IWGT workshop on germ cell assays(☆)

This workshop reviewed the current science to inform and recommend the best evidence-based approaches on the use of germ cell genotoxicity tests. The workshop questions and key outcomes were as follows. (1) Do genotoxicity and mutagenicity assays in somatic cells predict germ cell effects? Limited data suggest that somatic cell tests detect most germ cell mutagens, but there are strong concerns that dictate caution in drawing conclusions. (2) Should germ cell tests be done, and when? If there is evidence that a chemical or its metabolite(s) will not reach target germ cells or gonadal tissue, it is not necessary to conduct germ cell tests, notwithstanding somatic outcomes. However, it was recommended that negative somatic cell mutagens with clear evidence for gonadal exposure and evidence of toxicity in germ cells could be considered for germ cell mutagenicity testing. For somatic mutagens that are known to reach the gonadal compartments and expose germ cells, the chemical could be assumed to be a germ cell mutagen without further testing. Nevertheless, germ cell mutagenicity testing would be needed for quantitative risk assessment. (3) What new assays should be implemented and how? There is an immediate need for research on the application of whole genome sequencing in heritable mutation analysis in humans and animals, and integration of germ cell assays with somatic cell genotoxicity tests. Focus should be on environmental exposures that can cause de novo mutations, particularly newly recognized types of genomic changes. Mutational events, which may occur by exposure of germ cells during embryonic development, should also be investigated. Finally, where there are indications of germ cell toxicity in repeat dose or reproductive toxicology tests, consideration should be given to leveraging those studies to inform of possible germ cell genotoxicity.