Increased expression of the testicular estrogen receptor alpha in adult mice exposed to low doses of methiocarb.
Methiocarb is a widely used carbamate pesticide and a suspected endocrine disrupter. The objective of this study was to examine the in vivo effects of methiocarb at low doses on testicular expression of steroid receptors, spermatogenesis and sperm quality in adult mice. Eighteen-week-old DBA/2 males were treated with daily intraperitoneal injection of methiocarb (0, 0.03, 0.3, 1.0 or 3.0 microg kg(-1) of body weight) for 20 days. Kidney and liver weights were significantly increased in the 1.0 or 3.0 microg kg(-1) treatment groups (P < 0.05). The testicular expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) was significantly increased in mice treated with methiocarb as confirmed by Western blot analysis. The sperm production and sperm quality of the methiocarb-exposed mice were not significantly altered as determined using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system. Therefore, these results demonstrate, that although the exposure to methiocarb at low doses alters testicular ERalpha expression in adult mice, both sperm production and quality remain unaffected.
Han
Jiyou
J
Graduate School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Seongnam, South Korea.
Park
Mira
M
Kim
Jae-Hong
JH
Kim
Ahyoung
A
Won
Miae
M
Lee
Dong Ryul
DR
Ko
Jeong-Jae
JJ
Yoon
Ho
H
Sim
Se-Hoon
SH
Lee
Kangseok
K
Bae
Jeehyeon
J
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008714:Methiocarb / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D008714:Methiocarb