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Pérez PA, Toledo J, Vitellini F, Cuello VN, Cantarelli V, Ponzio M, Mukdsi JH, Gutiérrez S. Environmentally relevant DEHP exposure during gestational and lactational period inhibits filamin a testicular expression. J Mol Histol 2023; 54:509-520. [PMID: 37572267 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-023-10144-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Toxicological studies have revealed that DEHP exposure during pregnancy may induce developmental disorders, especially in male offspring, leading to morphological and functional alterations in the reproductive system by mechanisms that should be investigated. Thus, the aim of this work was to analyze the testicular toxicity induced by an environmentally relevant DEHP dose during development and its impact on FLNA, a protein that participates in the blood-testis barrier assembly. We used male Wistar rats exposed to DEHP during pregnancy and lactation. The results showed that DEHP exposure during development and lactation increased body weight, decreased gonadal weight and shortened anogenital distance. This phthalate induced morphological changes in the testis, suggestive of hypospermatogenesis. DEHP exposure decreased the number of FLNA positive cells and the expression of FLNA and claudin-1 in prepubertal testes. Furthermore, DEHP inhibited FLNA and claudin-1 protein expression in adult male rats. These results indicated that exposure to DEHP during gestation and lactation perturbed testis development and suggested that FLNA is a target protein of DEHP, possibly contributing to the phthalate-induced damage on BTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo A Pérez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Córdoba, Argentina
- Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Jonathan Toledo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Córdoba, Argentina
- Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Facundo Vitellini
- Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Victoria Navall Cuello
- Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Verónica Cantarelli
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marina Ponzio
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto de Fisiología Humana, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Jorge H Mukdsi
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Córdoba, Argentina
- Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Silvina Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (INICSA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Córdoba, Argentina.
- Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Wang L, Meng Q, Wang H, Huang X, Yu C, Yin G, Wang D, Jiang H, Huang Z. Luman regulates the activity of the LHCGR promoter. Res Vet Sci 2023; 161:132-137. [PMID: 37384971 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.06.014] [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: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Testosterone in male mammals is mainly secreted by testicular Leydig cells, and its secretion process is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. After receiving the luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulus signal, the lutropin/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) on the Leydig cell membrane transfers the signal into the cell and finally increases the secretion of testosterone by upregulating the expression of steroid hormone synthase. In previous experiments, we found that interfering with the expression of the Luman protein can significantly increase testosterone secretion in MLTC-1 cells. In this experiment, we found that knockdown of Luman in MLTC-1 cells significantly increased the concentration of cAMP and upregulated the expression of AC and LHCGR. Moreover, an analysis of the activity of the LHCGR promoter by a dual luciferase reporter system showed that knockdown of Luman increased the activity of the LHCGR promoter. Therefore, we believe that knockdown of Luman increased the activity of the LHCGR promoter and upregulated the expression of LHCGR, thereby increasing the concentration of intracellular cAMP and ultimately leading to an increase of testosterone secretion by MLTC-1 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Engineering Laboratory of Animal Pharmaceuticals, College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350002, PR China.
| | - Qingrui Meng
- Engineering Laboratory of Animal Pharmaceuticals, College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350002, PR China
| | - Hailun Wang
- Engineering Laboratory of Animal Pharmaceuticals, College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350002, PR China
| | - Xiaoyu Huang
- Engineering Laboratory of Animal Pharmaceuticals, College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350002, PR China
| | - Chunchen Yu
- Engineering Laboratory of Animal Pharmaceuticals, College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350002, PR China
| | - Guangwen Yin
- Engineering Laboratory of Animal Pharmaceuticals, College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350002, PR China
| | - Dengfeng Wang
- Engineering Laboratory of Animal Pharmaceuticals, College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350002, PR China
| | - Heji Jiang
- Engineering Laboratory of Animal Pharmaceuticals, College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350002, PR China
| | - Zhijian Huang
- Engineering Laboratory of Animal Pharmaceuticals, College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province 350002, PR China.
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Khushboo M, Sanjeev S, Murthy MK, Sunitadevi M, Dinata R, Bhanushree B, Bidanchi RM, Nisa N, Lalrinzuali S, Manikandan B, Saeed AL, Abinash G, Pori B, Arati C, Roy VK, Gurusubramanian G. Dietary phytoestrogen diosgenin interrupts metabolism, physiology, and reproduction of Swiss albino mice: Possible mode of action as an emerging environmental contaminant, endocrine disruptor and reproductive toxicant. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 176:113798. [PMID: 37146712 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113798] [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: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Dietary phytoestrogens are the main source of environmental contamination due to their estrogen-mimicking and endocrine-disrupting effects, posing a threat to microbial, soil, plant, and animal health. Diosgenin, a phytosteroid saponin, is used in many traditional medicines, nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapies against numerous diseases and disorders. It is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with diosgenin, as well as its potential to cause reproductive and endocrine toxicity. Due to the lack of research on the safety and probable adverse side effects of diosgenin, this work evaluated the endocrine-disrupting and reproductive toxicity of diosgenin in albino mice by following acute toxicity (OECD-423), repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity (OECD-468), and F1 extended one-generation reproductive toxicity (OECD-443) studies. Diosgenin was found to be slightly toxic, with LD50 for male and female mice being 546.26 and 538.72 mg/kg, respectively. Chronic exposure of diosgenin (10, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) generated oxidative stress, depleted antioxidant enzymes, disturbed homeostasis of the reproductive hormones, and interrupted steroidogenesis, germ cell apoptosis, gametogenesis, sperm quality, estrous cycle, and reproductive performance in the F0 and F1 offspring. Long-term oral exposure of diosgenin to the mice disturbed the endocrine and reproductive functions and generated transgenerational reproductive toxic effects in F0 and F1 offspring. These results suggest that diosgenin should be used carefully in food products and medical applications due to its potential endocrine-disrupting and reproductive toxic effects. The findings of this study provide a better understanding of the potential adverse effects of diosgenin and the need for appropriate risk assessment and management of its use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurya Khushboo
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
| | - Sanasam Sanjeev
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
| | | | - Maibam Sunitadevi
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
| | - Roy Dinata
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
| | - Baishya Bhanushree
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
| | | | - Nisekhoto Nisa
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
| | - Sailo Lalrinzuali
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
| | - Bose Manikandan
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
| | - Ahmed-Laskar Saeed
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
| | - Giri Abinash
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
| | - Buragohain Pori
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
| | - Chettri Arati
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
| | - Vikas Kumar Roy
- Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram, India.
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Circle(s) of Life: The Circadian Clock from Birth to Death. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12030383. [PMID: 36979075 PMCID: PMC10045474 DOI: 10.3390/biology12030383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Most lifeforms on earth use endogenous, so-called circadian clocks to adapt to 24-h cycles in environmental demands driven by the planet’s rotation around its axis. Interactions with the environment change over the course of a lifetime, and so does regulation of the circadian clock system. In this review, we summarize how circadian clocks develop in humans and experimental rodents during embryonic development, how they mature after birth and what changes occur during puberty, adolescence and with increasing age. Special emphasis is laid on the circadian regulation of reproductive systems as major organizers of life segments and life span. We discuss differences in sexes and outline potential areas for future research. Finally, potential options for medical applications of lifespan chronobiology are discussed.
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Effect of High-Fructose Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome on the Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Male Rats. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123009. [PMID: 36551765 PMCID: PMC9776103 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasma testosterone levels have been found to decrease in older insulin-resistant male patients. Both lower total testosterone levels and a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome have also been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high-fructose diet-induced diabetes on both the testosterone release by Leydig cells and the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in male rats. Male rats were fed with either standard chow (control group) or a high-fructose diet (fructose-fed group) for 21 weeks. Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hypertension were observed in the fructose-fed group. Moreover, plasma testosterone and LH levels decreased in the fructose-fed group compared to the control group. Sperm motility was also reduced by 15% in the fructose-fed rats. In contrast, the basal release of testosterone from rat Leydig cells was not altered by fructose feeding. Moreover, in vitro studies showed that the testosterone release, in response to different stimulants, including forskolin (an adenylyl cyclase activator, 10-5 M), 8-Br-cAMP (a permeable analog of cAMP, 10-5 M), A23187 (a calcium ionophore, 10-5 M), or 25-hydroxy-cholesterol (water-soluble cholesterol, 10-5 M), did not significantly differ between the fructose-fed and control groups. Interestingly, the release of testosterone in response to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 0.05 IU/mL) was enhanced by eightfold in the control group, but elevenfold in the fructose-fed group. LH receptor expression in rat Leydig cells was also increased. Moreover, LH secretion from the anterior pituitary was altered in the fructose diet-fed group. These results suggest that fructose diet-fed rats have lower plasma testosterone levels, which can lead to a higher sensitivity of hCG in Leydig cells.
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Molina EM, Kavazis AN, Mendonça MT, Akingbemi BT. Effects of different DDE exposure paradigms on testicular steroid hormone secretion and hepatic oxidative stress in male Long-Evans rats. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2022; 317:113963. [PMID: 34902316 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to low doses of anthropogenic chemicals in the environment continues to be a major health issue. Due to concerns about the effects in humans and wildlife, use of persistent organic pollutants, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), is prohibited. However, their ubiquitous nature and persistence allows them to remain in the environment at low levels for decades. Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) is the most persistent metabolite of DDT and has been shown to cause hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hormonal disorders, and induce oxidative stress in many organisms. Although the effects of acute exposure to DDT and its metabolite DDE have been extensively studied, the chronic effects of sub-lethal DDE exposure at levels comparable to those found in the environment have not been well documented. Long-Evans male rats were used to determine the effect of relatively chronic and short term DDE (doses ranged from 0.001 to 100 μg/L) exposure on endocrine function and oxidative stress at different developmental time points. We found that circulating serum testosterone (T) levels were significantly decreased and T secretion in testicular explants were significantly influenced in a dose dependent manner in both pre-pubertal and pubertal male rats after DDE exposure, with pubertal rats being the most affected contrary to our original prediction. Additionally, exposure to DDE increased expression of protein oxidation indicating a possible increase in cellular damage caused by oxidative stress. This study suggests that chronic exposures to environmentally relevant levels of DDE affected testicular function and decreased T secretion with implications for reproductive capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica M Molina
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, 331 Funchess Hall, 350 South College St, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
| | - Andreas N Kavazis
- School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, 287 Kinesiology Building, 301 Wire Road, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
| | - Mary T Mendonça
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, 331 Funchess Hall, 350 South College St, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
| | - Benson T Akingbemi
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Auburn University, 1130 Wire Road, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
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Teng J, Zhao Y, Chen HJ, Xue LY, Ji XS. Global expression response of genes in sex-undifferentiated Nile tilapia gonads after exposure to trace letrozole. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 217:112255. [PMID: 33915448 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aromatase inhibitor letrozole can be found in rivers, effluents, and even drinking water. Studies have demonstrated that letrozole affects various metabolic pathways and may cause reproductive toxicity, especially in fish exposed during development. However, studies on the effect of a low concentration of letrozole at the whole-gonad transcriptomic level in the early stage of fish sexual development have not been investigated. The aim of our study was to explore the potential effects of a low concentration of letrozole on the gonad transcriptome of Nile tilapia at an early stage of sexual development. In this study, 9 dpf (days postfertilization) Nile tilapia were exposed to trace letrozole for 12 days. Letrozole exposure from 9 dpf to 21 dpf persistently altered phenotypic sex development and induced the male-biased sex ratio. The transcriptome results showed that 1173 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were present in the female control vs 1.5 μg/L letrozole-treated female comparison group and that 1576 DEGs were present in the 1.5 μg/L letrozole-treated female vs male control comparison group. Differentially expressed gene enrichment analysis revealed several crucial pathways, including the drug metabolism-cytochrome P450 pathway, the ErbB-PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and the calcium signalling pathway. Further analysis of these identified DEGs indicated that some key genes correlated with metabolism and epigenetic regulation were significantly affected by letrozole, such as UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (Ugt), glutathione S-transferase omega-1 (Gsto1), lysine-specific demethylase 6bb (Kdm6bb, original name is Kdm6a), jumonji and AT-rich interaction domain containing 2 (Jarid2b, original name is Jarid2), growth arrest and DNA damage inducible gamma (Gadd45g), and chromobox protein 7 (Cbx7). The qRT-PCR validation results for twelve DEGs showed that the Pearson's correlation of the log10fold change values between the qPCR and RNA-Seq results was 0.90, indicating the accuracy and reliability of the RNA-Seq results. Our study is the first to report the effect of letrozole on the transcriptome of gonads from fish during early-stage sexual development. These findings will be useful for understanding the toxic effects and molecular mechanisms of letrozole exposure at the early stage of gonad development on the sexual development of aquatic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Teng
- College of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Hong Ju Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Liang Yi Xue
- College of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xiang Shan Ji
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China.
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You HH, Song G. Review of endocrine disruptors on male and female reproductive systems. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 244:109002. [PMID: 33610819 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2021.109002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Endocrine disruptors (EDs) interfere with different hormonal and metabolic processes and disrupt the development of organs and tissues, as well as the reproductive system. In toxicology research, various animal models have been utilized to compare and characterize the effects of EDs. We reviewed studies assessing the effect of ED exposure in humans, zebrafish, and mouse models and the adverse effects of EDs on male and female reproductive systems. This review outlines the distinctive morphological characteristics, as well as gene expression, factors, and mechanisms that are known to occur in response to EDs. In each animal model, disturbances in the reproductive system were associated with certain factors of apoptosis, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, estrogen receptor pathway-induced meiotic disruption, and steroidogenesis. The effects of bisphenol A, phthalate, and 17α-ethinylestradiol have been investigated in animal models, each providing supporting outcomes and elaborating the key regulators of male and female reproductive systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyekyoung Hannah You
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwonhwa Song
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
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