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El Fouikar S, Van Acker N, Héliès V, Frenois FX, Giton F, Gayrard V, Dauwe Y, Mselli-Lakhal L, Rousseau-Ralliard D, Fournier N, Léandri R, Gatimel N. Folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis alterations after chronic exposure to a human-relevant mixture of environmental toxicants spare the ovarian reserve in the rabbit model. J Ovarian Res 2024; 17:134. [PMID: 38943138 PMCID: PMC11214233 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-024-01457-6] [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: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Industrial progress has led to the omnipresence of chemicals in the environment of the general population, including reproductive-aged and pregnant women. The reproductive function of females is a well-known target of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This function holds biological processes that are decisive for the fertility of women themselves and for the health of future generations. However, insufficient research has evaluated the risk of combined mixtures on this function. This study aimed to assess the direct impacts of a realistic exposure to eight combined environmental toxicants on the critical process of folliculogenesis. METHODS Female rabbits were exposed daily and orally to either a mixture of eight environmental toxicants (F group) or the solvent mixture (NE group, control) from 2 to 19 weeks of age. The doses were computed from previous toxicokinetic data to reproduce steady-state serum concentrations in rabbits in the range of those encountered in pregnant women. Ovarian function was evaluated through macroscopic and histological analysis of the ovaries, serum hormonal assays and analysis of the expression of steroidogenic enzymes. Cellular dynamics in the ovary were further investigated with Ki67 staining and TUNEL assays. RESULTS F rabbits grew similarly as NE rabbits but exhibited higher total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in adulthood. They also presented a significantly elevated serum testosterone concentrations, while estradiol, progesterone, AMH and DHEA levels remained unaffected. The measurement of gonadotropins, androstenedione, pregnenolone and estrone levels yielded values below the limit of quantification. Among the 7 steroidogenic enzymes tested, an isolated higher expression of Cyp19a1 was measured in F rabbits ovaries. Those ovaries presented a significantly greater density/number of antral and atretic follicles and larger antral follicles without any changes in cellular proliferation or DNA fragmentation. No difference was found regarding the count of other follicle stages notably the primordial stage, the corpora lutea or AMH serum levels. CONCLUSION Folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis seem to be subtly altered by exposure to a human-like mixture of environmental toxicants. The antral follicle growth appears promoted by the mixture of chemicals both in their number and size, potentially explaining the increase in atretic antral follicles. Reassuringly, the ovarian reserve estimated through primordial follicles number/density and AMH is spared from any alteration. The consequences of these changes on fertility and progeny health have yet to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara El Fouikar
- ToxAlim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Nathalie Van Acker
- Plateforme Imag'IN, Service d'anatomopathologie, CHU Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Oncopole de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Virginie Héliès
- GenPhySE (Génétique Physiologie et Système d'Elevage), INRAE, Université de Toulouse, INPT, ENVT, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - François-Xavier Frenois
- Plateforme Imag'IN, Service d'anatomopathologie, CHU Toulouse, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Oncopole de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Frank Giton
- Pôle Biologie-Pathologie Henri Mondor, AP-HP, Inserm IMRB U955, Créteil, France
| | - Véronique Gayrard
- ToxAlim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Yannick Dauwe
- ToxAlim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Laila Mselli-Lakhal
- ToxAlim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Delphine Rousseau-Ralliard
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, Jouy-en-Josas, 78350, BREED, France
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France
| | - Natalie Fournier
- Athérosclérose et macrophages: impact des phospholipides et des fonctions mitochondriales sur l'efflux du cholestérol, Lip(Sys) Université Paris Saclay, UFR de Pharmacie, Orsay, EA, 7357, 91400, France
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, AP-HP (Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris), Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, 75015, France
| | - Roger Léandri
- ToxAlim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, Toulouse, France.
- Médecine de la Reproduction, Hôpital Paule de Viguier, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
| | - Nicolas Gatimel
- Médecine de la Reproduction, Hôpital Paule de Viguier, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- DEFE (Développement Embryonnaire, Fertilité et Environnement) UMR1203 Inserm, Universités Toulouse et Montpellier, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
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El Fouikar S, Duranthon V, Helies V, Jammes H, Couturier-Tarrade A, Gayrard V, Van Acker N, Frenois FX, Archilla C, Rousseau-Ralliard D, Gatimel N, Léandri R. Multigenerational Effects of a Complex Human-Relevant Exposure during Folliculogenesis and Preimplantation Embryo Development: The FEDEXPO Study. TOXICS 2023; 11:toxics11050425. [PMID: 37235240 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11050425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Animal toxicological studies often fail to mimic the complexity of the human exposome, associating low doses, combined molecules and long-term exposure. Since the reproductive potential of a woman begins in the fetal ovary, the literature regarding the disruption of its reproductive health by environmental toxicants remains limited. Studies draw attention to follicle development, a major determinant for the quality of the oocyte, and the preimplantation embryo, as both of them are targets for epigenetic reprogramming. The "Folliculogenesis and Embryo Development EXPOsure to a mixture of toxicants: evaluation in the rabbit model" (FEDEXPO) project emerged from consideration of these limitations and aims to evaluate in the rabbit model the impacts of an exposure to a mixture of known and suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during two specific windows, including folliculogenesis and preimplantation embryo development. The mixture combines eight environmental toxicants, namely perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), 2,2'4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and bisphenol S (BPS), at relevant exposure levels for reproductive-aged women based on biomonitoring data. The project will be organized in order to assess the consequences of this exposure on the ovarian function of the directly exposed F0 females and monitor the development and health of the F1 offspring from the preimplantation stage. Emphasis will be made on the reproductive health of the offspring. Lastly, this multigenerational study will also tackle potential mechanisms for the inheritance of health disruption via the oocyte or the preimplantation embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara El Fouikar
- ToxAlim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | | | - Virginie Helies
- GenPhySE (Génétique Physiologie et Système d'Elevage), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INPT, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Hélène Jammes
- BREED INRAE, UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Véronique Gayrard
- ToxAlim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Nathalie Van Acker
- Plateforme Imag'IN, Service d'Anatomie Pathologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Oncopole de Toulouse, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France
| | - François-Xavier Frenois
- Plateforme Imag'IN, Service d'Anatomie Pathologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Oncopole de Toulouse, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France
| | | | | | - Nicolas Gatimel
- DEFE (Développement Embryonnaire, Fertilité et Environnement), UMR 1203 Inserm, Universités Toulouse et Montpellier, Toulouse Teaching Hospital Group, 31059 Toulouse, France
- Médecine de la Reproduction, Hôpital Paule de Viguier, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France
| | - Roger Léandri
- ToxAlim (Research Center in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, INP-Purpan, UPS, 31062 Toulouse, France
- Médecine de la Reproduction, Hôpital Paule de Viguier, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France
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