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Mohamed ZI, Sivalingam M, Radhakrishnan AK, Jaafar F, Zainal Abidin SA. Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) reduced phoenixin expression, induced abnormal sperm and testis morphology in male rats. Neuropeptides 2024; 107:102447. [PMID: 38870753 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2024.102447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Chronic stress caused by prolonged emotional pressure can lead to various physiological issues, including reproductive dysfunction. Although reproductive problems can also induce chronic stress, the impact of chronic stress-induced reproductive dysfunction remains contentious. This study investigates the effects of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) on reproductive neuropeptides, sperm quality, and testicular morphology. Sixteen twelve-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups: a non-stress control group and a CUS-induced group. The CUS regimen involved various stressors over 28 days, with both groups undergoing behavioural assessments through sucrose-preference and forced-swim tests. Hypothalamic gene expression levels of CRH, PNX, GPR173, kisspeptin, GnRH, GnIH, and spexin neuropeptides were measured via qPCR, while plasma cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone concentrations were quantified using ELISA. Seminal fluid and testis samples were collected for sperm analysis and histopathological evaluation, respectively. Results showed altered behaviours in CUS-induced rats, reflecting stress impacts. Hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) expression and plasma cortisol levels were significantly higher in CUS-induced rats compared to controls (p < 0.05). Conversely, phoenixin (PNX) expression decreased in the CUS group (p < 0.05), while kisspeptin, spexin, and gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) levels showed no significant differences between groups. Despite a significant increase in GnRH expression (p < 0.05), plasma LH and testosterone concentrations were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in CUS-induced rats. Histopathological analysis revealed abnormal testis morphology in CUS-induced rats, including disrupted architecture, visible interstitial spaces between seminiferous tubules, and absence of spermatogenesis. In conclusion, CUS affects reproductive function by modulating PNX and GnRH expression, influencing cortisol levels, and subsequently reducing plasma LH and testosterone concentrations. This study highlights the complex interplay between chronic stress and reproductive health, emphasizing the significant impact of stress on reproductive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Isnaini Mohamed
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 46150 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mageswary Sivalingam
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 46150 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ammu K Radhakrishnan
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 46150 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Faizul Jaafar
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 46150 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Syafiq Asnawi Zainal Abidin
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 46150 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Ding Y, Chen Y, Feng W, Huang G, Dong M, Zhao T, Chen N, Yang L, Mao G, Wu X. Persistent immune injury induced by short-term decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) exposure to female middle-aged Balb/c mice. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:111325-111343. [PMID: 37814044 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30148-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), widely used in various industries for its excellent flame-retardant performance, could be enriched in humans and is closely associated with immune impairment. In addition, immune system is gradually declined and becoming more sensitive to environmental pollutants in the ageing process. Therefore, the immunotoxicity of BDE-209 (4, 40, and 400 mg/kg/day) to middle-aged mice and its recovery and susceptibility was first to be comprehensively investigated in this study. The results showed that BDE-209 exposure could lead to oxidative injury to immune organs (spleen, thymus, and liver), impair humoral (immunoglobulins), cellular (lymphopoiesis), and non-specific immunity, and disturb the expressions of the genes related to Th1/Th2 balance (T helper cells) in the middle-aged mice. In addition, Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) indicated that BDE-209-induced immune impairment was challenging to self-regulated, and even exacerbated after 21 days of recovery and oxidative injury in immune organs could be the main reason. Furthermore, factorial analysis showed that middle-aged mice exposed to BDE-209 suffered from greater immune impairment than adult mice, and the immune impairment in aged mice is more difficult to be self-repaired than that in adult mice. It can be seen that the aged tend to suffer from BDE-209-induced persistent immune impairment and health threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Ding
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- The Laboratory Animal Research Center of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yao Chen
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weiwei Feng
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guijuan Huang
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingyue Dong
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ting Zhao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Na Chen
- Zhenjiang Food and Drug Supervision and Inspection Center, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Liuqing Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guanghua Mao
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xiangyang Wu
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
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Gomes-Silva AP, Cunha de Medeiros PD, Silva LN, Da Silva Araújo Santiago M, Perobelli JE. Exposure to manganese during sertoli cell formation and proliferation disturbs early testicular development in rats. Reprod Toxicol 2023; 120:108447. [PMID: 37499885 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) is a metal and important micronutrient. However, exposure to supraphysiological levels of Mn, which occur through fungicides, atmospheric emissions, drainages, and spills, has been related to health risks, including morphometric changes in the male reproductive organs and impairment on gametogenesis and sperm quality, impacting the fertile ability of adult animals. Despite the relevance of the fetal/perinatal period for toxicological studies on Mn, previous data only deal with the physical and neurological development of the offspring, without mentioning their reproductive development. The present study investigated whether exposure to Mn during fetal/perinatal phase, specifically during the period of formation and proliferation of Sertoli cells, impairs the reproductive development of male offspring in early postnatal life. Therefore, pregnant Wistar rats were randomly distributed into 3 experimental groups: Ctl (received saline solution), Mn-9 (received 9 mg/kg of MnCl2), and Mn-90 (received 90 mg/kg of MnCl2). The female rats received the experimental treatment by gavage from gestational day 13 to lactational day 15, i.e., postnatal day (PND) 15 of the pups. Oxidative damage to the genetic material of germ and Sertoli cells, together with a decrease in connexin 43 immunolabeling were observed in the testis of male pups evaluated at PND 15. In addition, an increase in the seminiferous tubules presenting slight epithelium vacuolization and cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm were observed, without apparent epididymal changes. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that Mn perturbed the initial testicular development by altering Sertoli cell integrity through oxidative insult, which may compromise the spermatogenesis in the long-term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Priscila Gomes-Silva
- Laboratory of Experimental Toxicology - LATOEX, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Instituto do Mar, Carvalho de Mendonça, 144, 11070-100 Santos, SP, Brazil
| | - Paloma da Cunha de Medeiros
- Laboratory of Experimental Toxicology - LATOEX, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Instituto do Mar, Carvalho de Mendonça, 144, 11070-100 Santos, SP, Brazil
| | - Laís Nogueira Silva
- Laboratory of Experimental Toxicology - LATOEX, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Instituto do Mar, Carvalho de Mendonça, 144, 11070-100 Santos, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcella Da Silva Araújo Santiago
- Laboratory of Experimental Toxicology - LATOEX, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Instituto do Mar, Carvalho de Mendonça, 144, 11070-100 Santos, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana Elaine Perobelli
- Laboratory of Experimental Toxicology - LATOEX, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Instituto do Mar, Carvalho de Mendonça, 144, 11070-100 Santos, SP, Brazil.
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da Cunha de Medeiros P, Nascimento CC, Perobelli JE. Antineoplastic drugs in environmentally relevant concentrations cause endocrine disruption and testicular dysfunction in experimental conditions. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 100:104122. [PMID: 37031830 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and methotrexate (MTX) are among the most widely consumed antineoplastic drugs worldwide. These drugs are known as emerging pollutants, once after consumption are excreted by feces and/or urine in a mixture of compounds and metabolites, entering the aquatic environment due to low efficiency in drug removal by effluent treatment plants. Considering that these substances may interact with the DNA, causing metabolic and morphological changes, leading to cell death, the present study aimed to investigate the potential impact of a long-term exposure to these antineoplastic drugs in environmentally relevant concentrations, on testicular morphophysiology of rats. Male Wistar rats (70 days old) were distributed into 4 groups (n = 10 / group): control, received only vehicle; MTX, received methotrexate at 10ngL-1 in drinking water; 5-FU received 5-fluorouracil at 10ngL-1 in drinking water; and MTX+ 5FU, received the combination of MTX and 5-FU at 10ngL-1 each. The treatment period was from postnatal day (PND)70 to PND160, when the animals were euthanized for evaluation of testicular toxicity and changes in endocrine signaling. In these experimental conditions, both drugs acted as endocrine disruptors causing cytotoxic effects in the testes of exposed rats, altering the structural pattern of seminiferous tubules and leading to oxidative stress even at environmental concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paloma da Cunha de Medeiros
- Laboratory of Experimental Toxicology - LATOEX, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Instituto do Mar, Carvalho de Mendonça, 144, 11070-100 Santos, SP, Brazil
| | - Cinthia C Nascimento
- Department of Biosciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana E Perobelli
- Laboratory of Experimental Toxicology - LATOEX, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Instituto do Mar, Carvalho de Mendonça, 144, 11070-100 Santos, SP, Brazil.
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Liu X, Yao C, Tang Y, Liu X, Duan C, Wang C, Han F, Xiang Y, Wu L, Li Y, Ji A, Cai T. Role of p53 methylation in manganese-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression in BV2 microglial cells. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 241:113824. [PMID: 36068751 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) is an essential cofactor for many enzymes and plays an important role in normal growth and development. However, excess exposure to manganese (Mn) may be an important environmental factor leading to neurodegeneration. The overexpression of microglial cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays a key role in neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. The existing data suggest that Mn can induce neuroinflammation by up-regulating COX-2 expression. However, the mechanisms involved in Mn-induced microglial COX-2 up-regulation remain to be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of p53 in Mn-induced COX-2 expression in microglial cells. The results showed that Mn exposure induced the up-regulation of COX-2 and inhibited the expression of p53 in BV2 microglial cells. The addition of p53 activator and the over-expression of p53 blocked the expression of COX-2 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a COX-2 downstream effector, induced by Mn. Further, Mn increased the methylation of p53 DNA in microglia, while the addition of demethylation reagent 5-Aza-dC enhanced the expression of p53 but decreased the expression of COX-2. These results suggested that Mn may inhibit p53 expression through induction of DNA methylation, which can further induce the expression of COX-2 in microglial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Chunyan Yao
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Tang
- Experimental Teaching Center, School of Public Health, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- The Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Chenggang Duan
- Department of Pathophysiology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Chunmei Wang
- Experimental Teaching Center, School of Public Health, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Fei Han
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Xiang
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Long Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yafei Li
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Ailing Ji
- Department of Preventive Medicine & Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, China.
| | - Tongjian Cai
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China.
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