title: Effects of heat-induced food contaminant furan on reproductive system of male rats from weaning through postpuberty.
abstract: Furan (C(4)H(4)O) is a volatile, colorless liquid and is used in some segments of the chemical manufacturing industry. It is found in variety of foods such as coffee, jarred and canned foods that undergo heat treatment. This study was designed to investigate the effect of furan exposure on reproductive system of male rats. Three to four weeks old rats were exposed to furan at 2, 4 and 8 mg/kg/day doses by orally for 90 days. Hematology, weights, histology and morphometry of reproductive organs, serum LH and testosterone levels, sperm count and morphology and apoptosis in testis were evaluated. Slight changes were observed in hematological parameters of furan-treated rats. The weights of seminal vesicle reduced significantly whereas the weights of prostate increased significantly in the highest furan dose group. LH and testosterone levels decreased in furan-treated rats. Histological examinations have revealed that furan caused impairments in testis, epididymis and prostate gland. Furan showed no effects on sperm counts and morphology. On the other hand apoptotic cells in testis increased significantly. According to morphometrical examination, the epithelial heights and lumen diameters of the reproductive organs have changed in treatment groups. These results indicate that subchronic furan treatment induces toxicity of the male reproductive system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Beytepe Campus, 06800 Ankara, Turkey. elifkush@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karacaoğlu
authors.forename: Güldeniz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Selmanoğlu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003296:Cooking; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005663:Furans / Q000633:toxicity*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005663:Furans; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; C039281:furan