Generation of reactive oxygen species in sperms of rats as an earlier marker for evaluating the toxicity of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Bisphenol A (BPA) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) have been reported to cause sperm toxicity. To identify an earlier marker of toxicity of environmental substances or food additives, this study determined whether the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in sperms could serve as indices for the prediction of sperm toxicity and quality. Male Wistar rats were given drinking water containing various doses of BPA or DES for 8 weeks. Some rats were treated with 0.45% N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) for 2 days prior to the administration of DES or BPA. Administration of BPA or DES to rats for 1 week dose-dependently increased the production of ROS, even at doses and time points which had no effect on sperm motility. 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal modified proteins increased in sperms 8 weeks after BPA or DES treatment. NAC reversed oxidative stress and prevented the loss of sperm function in the DES or BPA-treated group. During observation, changes in the sperm motility, sperm count and morphology were not correlated to the increase in ROS levels. These results suggest that ROS levels may be used as an early indicator of sperm count and quality decreases which result from chronic toxicity.
Minamiyama
Yukiko
Y
Food Hygiene and Environmental Health Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8522, Japan. yukiko-m@kpu.ac.jp
Ichikawa
Hiroshi
H
Takemura
Shigekazu
S
Kusunoki
Hiroshi
H
Naito
Yuji
Y
Yoshikawa
Toshikazu
T
D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000633:toxicity*; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D015415:Biomarkers; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010636:Phenols; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds