title: In utero exposure to diesel exhaust increased accessory reproductive gland weight and serum testosterone concentration in male mice.
abstract: The effects of in utero exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) on the male mouse reproductive system were examined. Pregnant ICR mice inhaled DE at soot concentrations of 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg DEP/m3 or clean air as the control, for 2-16 days postcoitum. On postnatal day (PND) 28, the weights of the testes and accessory glands and testosterone concentration in serum were significantly higher in the DE-exposed male pups. Testosterone concentration correlated significantly (P<0.01) with the expression levels of steroidogenic enzyme mRNAs, weights of the testes and male reproductive accessory glands, and daily sperm production. These findings indicate that very early stage mouse embryo exposure to DE leads to endocrine disruption after birth and acceleration of male puberty.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda-shi, Chiba 278-0022, Japan. syoshida@oita-nhs.ac.jp
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Naoka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsukue
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oshio
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umeda
authors.forename: Hirohisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005835:Genitalia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D013739:Testosterone