Prenatal exposure to diesel exhaust impairs mouse spermatogenesis.
The effect of prenatal exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) was investigated. Twenty pregnant ICR mice were exposed to DE at the particle concentration of 1.0 mg/m3, from d 2 until d 16 postcoitum. Male offspring were kept alive until 12 wk of age, and then male reproductive organ weight, daily sperm production (DSP), serum testosterone level, and mRNA expression of sex steroid hormone synthesis process-related factors were measured. Serum testosterone levels of the exposed group were reduced significantly at 3 wk, whereas they were elevated significantly at 12 wk. DSP was also markedly reduced at 5 and 12 wk. Histological examination showed multinucleated giant cells in the seminiferous tubules of the exposed group as well as partial vacuolation of the seminiferous tubules. Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) mRNA expression and steroidogenesis acute regulatory (StAR) protein were significantly increased at 5 wk and 12 wk, respectively. This study suggests that prenatal exposure to DE has detrimental effects on mouse spermatogenesis in offspring.
Ono
Naoka
N
Department of Hygiene Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba.
Oshio
Shigeru
S
Niwata
Yuichiro
Y
Yoshida
Seiichi
S
Tsukue
Naomi
N
Sugawara
Isamu
I
Takano
Hirohisa
H
Takeda
Ken
K
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D013739:Testosterone