Effects of inhaled nanoparticle-rich diesel exhaust on regulation of testicular function in adult male rats.
We investigated the effects of nanoparticle-rich diesel exhaust (NR-DE) on reproductive function. Eight-week-old male F344 rats were divided into 12 experimental groups and exposed to either whole NR-DE at low (15.37 microg/m(3), 2.27 x 10(5) particles/cm(3)), middle (36.35 microg/m(3), 5.11 x 10(5) particles/cm(3)), or high (168.84 microg/m(3), 1.36 x 10(6) particles/cm(3)) concentrations or clean air for 4, 8, or 12 weeks (5 hours/day, 5 days/week). NR-DE exposure for 4 or 8 weeks did not affect body weight; however, body weight was significantly decreased in rats exposed to low- or high- concentration NR-DE for 12 weeks compared to the control group. Relative weights of testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, and prostate had increased non-significantly in all NR-DE-exposed rats at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Adrenal gland relative weights were significantly increased at 4 weeks in rats exposed to low-concentration NR-DE. Plasma luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone concentrations did not change significantly. Plasma testosterone concentrations were significantly increased after exposure to low- or middle-concentration NR-DE for 4 or 8 weeks compared to controls. Plasma immunoreactive (ir-) inhibin concentrations were significantly increased after exposure to high-concentration NR-DE for 4 weeks or middle- or high-concentration NR-DE for 12 weeks compared to controls. Testicular testosterone concentrations were significantly increased at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after exposure to low-concentration NR-DE compared to controls. In contrast, with exposure to low- or high-concentration NR-DE, testicular ir-inhibin concentrations were significantly greater than in controls, but only at 4 weeks. These results suggest that NR-DE inhalation disrupts the endocrine activity of the male reproductive system.
Li
ChunMei
C
Research Center for Environmental Risk, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki, Japan. li.chunmei@nies.go.jp
Taneda
Shinji
S
Taya
Kazuyoshi
K
Watanabe
Gen
G
Li
Xuezheng
X
Fujitani
Yuji
Y
Ito
Yuki
Y
Nakajima
Tamie
T
Suzuki
Akira K
AK
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
D013735:Testicular Hormones; D001335:Vehicle Emissions