title: Decreased number of sperms and Sertoli cells in mature rats exposed to diesel exhaust as fetuses.
abstract: This study was conducted to follow up the effects of fetal exposure to diesel exhaust on testicular cell numbers and daily sperm production in adulthood. Thirty-six pregnant rats were divided into five groups: groups exposed to total diesel-engine exhaust containing 1.71 mg/m3 particulate matter and 0.80 ppm nitrogen dioxide (high dose) or 0.17 mg/m3 particulate matter and 0.10 ppm nitrogen dioxide (low dose); groups exposed to filtered exhaust without particles containing 0.80 (high dose) or 0.10 (low dose) ppm nitrogen dioxide; and a group exposed to clean air. Exhaust exposure was performed from gestational day 7 to delivery. The numbers of daily produced sperm, spermatids and Sertoli cells in the diesel-exhaust-exposed groups were significantly lower than those in the control group on day 96 after birth. The ratio of spermatids/Sertoli cells and the follicle-stimulating hormone levels in the exposed groups were significantly higher. The present study provides evidence for the first time that mature rats exposed to diesel exhaust during fetus show a decrease in the daily production of sperm due to an insufficient number of Sertoli cells. As both the exhaust-exposed groups showed almost the same reactions toward the inhalation, the gaseous phase must have included the responsible toxicants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 24-1 Hyakunincho 3 chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan. Nobue_Watanabe@member.metro.tokyo.jp
authors.forename: Nobue
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013087:Spermatids / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone