Maternal fenvalerate exposure during pregnancy persistently impairs testicular development and spermatogenesis in male offspring.
Fenvalerate, a widely used pyrethroid insecticide, has been associated with poor semen quality. As yet, little is known about the effects of prenatal fenvalerate exposure on testicular development. The present study investigated the effects of prenatal fenvalerate exposure on testicular development and spermatogenesis. The pregnant mice were administered fenvalerate (30 mg/kg) by gavage daily from gestational day (gd) 13 to gd 18. The weights of testes and epididymides were significantly decreased in mice whose mothers were exposed to fenvalerate during pregnancy. Importantly, maternal fenvalerate exposure during pregnancy markedly decreased the number of mature seminiferous tubules (stages VII and VIII) in testes of adult male offspring. In addition, maternal fenvalerate exposure during pregnancy significantly reduced the number of epididymal spermatozoa in adult male offspring. Additional experiments showed that the level of serum testosterone (T) was significantly decreased in male fetuses whose mothers were exposed to fenvalerate during pregnancy. Correspondingly, mRNA and protein levels of P450(17alpha), a T synthetic enzyme, were significantly decreased in fetal testes. Moreover, the disruptive effect of prenatal fenvalerate exposure on testicular T synthesis was irreversible. In conclusion, prenatal fenvalerate exposure irreversibly impairs testicular development and spermatogenesis at least into early adulthood.
Zhang
Heng
H
Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
Wang
Hua
H
Ji
Yan-Li
YL
Zhang
Ying
Y
Yu
Tao
T
Ning
Huan
H
Zhang
Cheng
C
Zhao
Xian-Feng
XF
Wang
Qun
Q
Liu
Ping
P
Xu
De-Xiang
DX
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009570:Nitriles / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000633:toxicity*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis
D007306:Insecticides; D009570:Nitriles; D011722:Pyrethrins; D013739:Testosterone; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; C017690:fenvalerate