title: Diesel exhaust (DE) affects the regulation of testicular function in male Fischer 344 rats.
abstract: To investigate the effects of diesel exhaust (DE) particles on the reproductive system, male Fischer 344 rats at 13 mo of age were exposed to clean air or DE at particle concentrations of 0.3, 1, or 3 mg/m3 for 8 mo. DE did not markedly affect testicular and body weights. However, DE at 0.3 mg/m3 significantly decreased prostate and coagulating gland weights, accompanied by a reduction in thymus and adrenal gland weight. In contrast, there was a significant rise in the weights of prostate, seminal vesicles, and coagulating glands in the 3 mg/m3 DE group. In rats exposed to 0.3 or 1 mg/m3 DE, serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone increased significantly, while a rise in testicular testosterone was noted with 3 mg/m3 DE. The concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin as well as the sperm head counts were not markedly altered in any treatment group. Positive staining with inhibin-alpha subunit and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) were observed in Sertoli cells and Leydig cells, respectively. Immunolocalization of inhibin-alpha subunit and 3beta-HSD was not changed by exposure to DE. In conclusion, DE appears to exert greater effects on accessory glands than on testes in Fischer 344 rats, and the responsiveness of rats is less than that found in mice.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsukue
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsubone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sagai
authors.forename: W Z
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taya
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Birumachi
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001699:Biometry; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D013076:Sperm Count; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D013735:Testicular Hormones; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; C094377:inhibin-alpha subunit; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases