title: Early changes in sperm motility, acrosome reaction, and gene expression of reproductive organs in rats treated with sulfasalazine.
abstract: Previously, we reported that decreased epididymal expression of CD59 and decay accelerating factor (DAF) genes may affect sperm motility and the acrosome reaction in rats treated long-term (28 days) with sulfasalazine. To investigate the early effects of sulfasalazine on the male reproductive tract, we presently examined sperm motility, the acrosome reaction, and gene expression in the testes and epididymides of rats treated with sulfasalazine for 1, 7 or 14 days. Reduced sperm motility and acrosome reactions were noted on day 7, however, there were no remarkable changes in testicular gene expression. On the other hand, attenuated epididymal gene expression of CD59 and DAF was observed as early as day 1. As CD59 and DAF are secreted from the epididymis and play a role in sperm maturation, we hypothesize that sulfasalazine affects sperm maturation as an early effect and that CD59 and DAF genes are related to the negative effect.
authors.affiliation: Drug Safety Research and Development, Nagoya Laboratories, Pfizer Japan Inc., 5-2 Taketoyo, Aichi 470-2393, Japan.
authors.forename: Tamio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komiyama
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuno
authors.forename: Chisato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Horii
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D018958:CD55 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018957:CD59 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000633:toxicity*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D018958:CD55 Antigens; D018957:CD59 Antigens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012460:Sulfasalazine