Pubertal and early adult exposure to fenvalerate disrupts steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in mice at adulthood.
Fenvalerate, a pyrethroid insecticide used worldwide, has been shown to have a potentially adverse effect on male reproduction. Our earlier study showed that maternal fenvalerate exposure during lactation impaired testicular development in male offspring. In this study, we investigated the effects of pubertal and early adult exposure to fenvalerate on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in mice. Male mice were administered fenvalerate (60 mg/kg) by gavage daily from postnatal day 35 (PND35) to PND63. Results showed that sperm count was significantly decreased in fenvalerate-treated mice. In addition, fenvalerate markedly decreased the layers of spermatogenic cells, disturbed the array of spermatogenic cells and increased the number of apoptotic cells in testes. The adverse effects of fenvalerate on male reproduction seemed to be associated with a decrease in serum and testicular testosterone (T). Although pubertal and early adult exposure to fenvalerate had little effect on the number of Leydig cells in testes, mRNA and protein levels of testicular T biosynthetic enzymes including P450(17alpha) and P450scc were significantly downregulated in fenvalerate-treated mice. In conclusion, pubertal and early adult fenvalerate exposure induces a deleterious effect on steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in adulthood. The decreased testicular T synthesis partially contributes to fenvalerate-induced impairment on spermatogenesis.
Zhang
Heng
H
Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
Wang
Hua
H
Wang
Qun
Q
Zhao
Xian-Feng
XF
Liu
Ping
P
Ji
Yan-Li
YL
Ning
Huan
H
Yu
Tao
T
Zhang
Cheng
C
Zhang
Ying
Y
Meng
Xiu-Hong
XH
Xu
De-Xiang
DX
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009570:Nitriles / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000633:toxicity*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013076:Sperm Count; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D009570:Nitriles; D011722:Pyrethrins; D013739:Testosterone; C017690:fenvalerate