Changes in testicular morphology and steroidogenesis in adult rats exposed to Atrazine.
Atrazine is an herbicide considered as a potent endocrine disruptor, causing adverse effects on both gender of mammalian and non-mammalian species. Despite the known adverse effects of Atrazine, little is known about its action on male genital system, especially in adults. We evaluated the effects of Atrazine (50 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) in the 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) expression, plasmatic and testicular estrogen and testosterone levels, androgen receptor expression and morphological changes in adult rat testes. Atrazine at doses higher than 50 mg/kg resulted in decreased body weight, increased adrenal weight and transient increase in testis weight, followed by testis atrophy. A reduction in testosterone but increase in estradiol levels was observed. We showed for the first time that testicular 3beta-HSD protein was decreased, whereas in the adrenal it was unchanged. The results suggest that 3beta-HSD inhibition may represent an alternative mechanism through which Atrazine affects the testicular androgenesis, leading to changes in spermatogenesis.
Victor-Costa
Anna Bolivar
AB
Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Bandeira
Simone Miranda Carozzi
SM
Oliveira
André Gustavo
AG
Mahecha
Germán Arturo Bohórquez
GA
Oliveira
Cleida Aparecida
CA
D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001280:Atrazine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
C410798:AR protein, human; D000728:Androgens; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D006540:Herbicides; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C044256:3 (or 17)-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; D001280:Atrazine