title: Decline of sperm quality and testicular function in male mice during chronic low-dose exposure to microcystin-LR.
abstract: The effects of chronic low-dose exposure to microcystins were preliminarily studied on sperm quality and testicular function in male mice. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) was orally administered to male mice at 0, 1, 3.2, and 10 μg/L for 3 and 6 months. Our preliminary study found in three-month group, sperm quality declined at 3.2 and 10 μg/L doses, testosterone dropped at 10 μg/L, levels of LH and FSH increased, and Leydig cells exhibited apoptosis. Similar, but more pronounced, effects were observed in groups treated with MC-LR for 6 months. Compared to control (0 μg/L), the rate of sperm abnormality was higher and testosterone levels were lower following administration of 3.2 and 10 μg/L MC-LR and structural damage to the testis was observed with 10 μg/L dose. Thus, chronic low-dose treatment with MC-LR results in substantial toxicity to male reproduction, causing declines in sperm quality, decreased levels of serum testosterone, and injury to the testis.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008387:Marine Toxins; D051379:Mice; D052998:Microcystins / Q000633:toxicity*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D014873:Water Pollutants; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C057862:cyanoginosin LR