title: Semen parameters, fertility and testosterone levels in male rats exposed prenatally to betamethasone.
abstract: The present study investigated the long-term effects of prenatal betamethasone exposure on sperm quality and count, fertility and plasma testosterone levels in adult male rats. Pregnant rats received 0.1 mg kg(-1) betamethasone on Days 12, 13, 18 and 19 of pregnancy. This treatment impaired sperm quality, sperm production, fertility and plasma testosterone levels in adult male offspring compared to the control group. Thus, the results of the present study indicate that the long-term effects of prenatal betamethasone exposure may be deleterious to offspring. The consequent decrease in testosterone production during adulthood, in association with damaged semen parameters, may explain for the observed decrease in the capacity of adult male offspring to themselves generate viable descendants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Clinics, Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University-UNESP, 18618-000 Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Piffer
authors.forename: Patrícia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Daniela C C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gerardin
authors.forename: Wilma G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Kempinas
authors.forename: Oduvaldo C M
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D013739:Testosterone; D001623:Betamethasone